1. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Chains & Food Webs

2. 3 Roles Producer – Makes its own food
usually plants or one-celled organisms
Algae
Phytoplankton, tiny organisms that live in the ocean
Some types of bacteria
Consumer – Obtains energy from eating other organism
Omnivore, herbivore, carnivore, scavenger
Decomposer – Break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment
fungi and bacteria

3. Organisms that make their own food are producers.

4. Organisms that depend on others for food are consumers.
Herbivores -
plant eaters

5. Carnivores - meat eaters

6. Omnivores - plant and meat eaters

7. Scavengers - feed off dead organisms

8. Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms & return the raw materials to the environment are decomposers.

9. Decomposer

10. Food Chain
A series of events in which 1 organism eats another and obtains energy
Shows 1 possible path along which energy can move

11. Food Chain
Arrows point in the direction of the organism that is eating the other. It means “Is eaten by”
Arrows also show the direction of energy flow.

12. Food Chain 1st organism always a producer
2nd organism is a primary consumer that eats the producer – 1st level consumer (primary consumer)
2nd level (secondary) consumer eats the 1st level consumer
3rd level consumer (tertiary) feed on secondary consumers

13. Food Chain Position in the food chain is related to size.
Larger organisms are normally further up the food chain than smaller organisms

15. Food Web A more realistic way to show energy flow in an ecosystem
Shows many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem

16. Energy Pyramid
A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from 1 feeding level to another in a food web
At each level Energy is lost
Only about 10% of the energy in 1 level is transferred to the next level
Where does the energy go?

17. carnivores and omnivores
2nd level consumer
carnivores and omnivores
1st level consumer
herbivores
plants
producers

18. Energy Pyramid MOST ENERGY IS AVAILABLE AT THE PRODUCER LEVEL
AT EACH LEVEL THERE IS LESS AVAILABLE ENERGY THAN AT THE LEVEL BELOW

19. Energy loss from Food Chain/Web
Organisms use the energy they get to survive:
Movement
Body heat
Reproduce
Carry out Chemical Reactions
Energy passed on is from growth.
The bigger the organism eaten, the more energy the next organism gets.