1. Energy Can Flow Through Ecosystems
The connection between organisms in nature

2. So far what have we looked at that “flows” within nature?
Water
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Mineral
Nutrients
Carbon (to be discussed later)
What are we missing?

4. Think about it?
Looking at the image of a delicious turkey dinner, think about where everything has come from and how energy has flowed.
Where did the carrots come from?
How did the beans grow?
What made the bread?
What fed the turkey?
Why are you eating it?!
Discuss as a class

5. How can Energy flow?
The flow of matter (nutrients) and energy in an ecosystem is the result of predator-prey relationships. These relationships establish a long chain of events. They always begin with a producer and end with consumers.
Consider the food chain above, in your notes indicate the:
a) Producer
e) Quaternary (4th) consumer
b) Primary (1st) consumer
f) herbivore
c) Secondary (2nd) consumer
g) carnivore
d) Tertiary (3rd) consumer

6. What is missing from this picture?
The SUN!!!!

7. What happens when multiple food chains become interconnected within an ecosystem?
a food web is created!
Using the image provided, answer the questions in your notes.

8. Its time for an activity!

9. Why was there less and less “energy” from one bucket, or trophic level, to the next in our activity?
How is this energy lost?
Where does it go?

10. At each level in this any food chain, ENERGY is lost
At each level in this any food chain, ENERGY is lost. Approximately 90% of the energy consumed by each trophic level and only 10% in passed onto the next. In this case, the 90% of the caterpillar’s energy is used in its day-to-day metabolism, and only 10% can be passed on to the bird who eats it.
Energy:
1000 KJ
100 KJ
10 KJ
900 KJ LOST
90 KJ LOST

11. Why are decomposers on the side?