1. Food Pyramids and Cycles

2. Food Pyramids
From 1 trophic level to the next, only 10% of the energy in that trophic level can be passed on
For this reason often times we represent food chains as trophic pyramids
Where does the rest of the energy go – it is given off as heat

3. Food Pyramids
Also at each level the number of organisms decrease as you move up the food pyramid
For this reason there are also many more autotrophs as compared to the number of top-level heterotrophs
The longer the food chain the less efficient the process is

4. Law of Conservation
Because energy is neither created nor destroyed, its absence must be accounted for, hence energy just changed forms NOT LOST
The total weight of all the animals at each trophic level is called biomass
Biomass should decrease as you go up the pyramid

5. Water Cycle
Water evaporates from water sources (lakes or oceans), also water can transpire out of plants to get into a vapor form
Once in a vapor form, it condensates forming clouds
If enough condensation occurs we get precipitation (rain, snow, ect.) and the cycle starts over

6. The Carbon Cycle CO2 is put into the air when
Any animals breathes (respiration)
Any fuel is burned
CO2 is taken out the air when photosynthesis occurs (using plants)
The carbon that is trapped in our bodies after we die eventually becomes the raw materials for fossil fuels, which when burned give off CO2