1. Aim: How to analyze an energy pyramid? Look at the pond ecosystem
We know all living things need energy in order to survive. But…….
Where does the energy to support life originally come from?
Which type of living things can trap this energy?

2. These are some interesting questions we can ask ourselves.
How does energy flow in an ecosystem?
Does all the energy get transferred or some of it is loss?
These are some interesting questions we can ask ourselves.

3. Energy Pyramid show how energy flows through an ecosystem.
illustrates that the amount of available energy decreases at each succeeding trophic level.
The total energy transfer from one trophic level to the next is only about ten percent

4. Why 90% of the energy is loss as you move up the energy pyramid?
Answer: The cost of living!
17%
growth
energy lost to daily living
only this energy moves on to the next level in the food chain
33%
cellular
respiration
50%
waste (feces)

5. Check for Understanding
Which trophic level contains the most amount of available energy?
Which trophic level contains the least amount of available energy?

6. Energy Pyramid A B C D level D = producers level C = primary consumers
level B= secondary consumers
level A = tertiary consumers
tertiary consumers A
secondary consumers B
primary consumers C
producers D

7. Check for Understanding
What happens to the total amount of available energy as you move up the trophic level?
tertiary consumers A
secondary consumers B
primary consumers C
producers D

8. Summary Question
How does energy flow in an ecosystem?

9. Critical Thinking Question
What happens to an ecosystem if there is a drought (prolong period without rain) ? Explain. Must be as least 1 paragraph.

10. Critical Thinking-Application Question
As the number of people in poor countries begin to become wealthy, they start to demand and consume more meat based diet rather than plants based diet. How will this effect the environment and you?

11. Let’s Check for Understanding Regents Based Questions
Base your answer to the question on the diagram of a food web and on your knowledge of biology.
1. What is the original source of energy for this food web?
chemical bonds in sugar molecules
enzymatic reactions
the Sun
chemical reactions of bacteria