1. Energy in Ecosystems

2. Food Chains Food Chain What do food chains show?
What do the arrows represent?
A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy.
Food chains show the transfer of energy in an ecosystem
The arrows represent the transfer of energy.

3. All Food Chains start with the sun
After the sun is an organism that can do photosynthesis. Like plants and phytoplankton.
Sunlight + Carbon Dioxide + Water = Energy This process is called Photosynthesis
What do food chains start with?
What type of organism is after the sun?
Describe photosynthesis.

4. Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird → mushroom
Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture
Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse → hawk
Sample food chains:

7. Producers
An organism that can make its own food . They use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to make energy, through a process called photosynthesis. Producers are the source of all food in an ecosystem. Without producers there is no food chain.
Flowers
Phytoplankton
Tree

8. Two major groups of decomposers are: Bacteria Fungi.
Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment.
Two major groups of decomposers are:
Bacteria
Fungi.

9. Consumers
3 types of Consumers
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.
Ex: Deer, Humans, Snakes, Bat, Cat, Hippopotamus, Cricket, Rabbit
Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivores
Food Chain Game

10. Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug producer 1-consumer 2-consumer
→bird → mushroom
3-consumer Decomposer
Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture
producer 1-consumer 2-consumer 3- consumer
Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse →
producer consumer consumer
hawk
3-consumer
Sample food chains with energy roles labeled:

11. Carnivores 3 types of consumers Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores
Consumers that eat ONLY other consumers.
( Meat -Eaters)
Ex: T-rex, Tigers, Lions, Ladybugs, Spiders.

12. Herbivores
Herbivores are consumers that eat only producers. (plant eaters)
Ex: Butterflies, deer, elephants, giraffes, mice.

13. Omnivores
Consumers that eat BOTH consumers and producers. (both meat eaters and plant eaters)
Ex. Humans, Bearded Dragons, Turtles, Bears.

14. Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug producer 1-consumer 2-consumer
herbivore Carnivore
→bird → mushroom
3-consumer Decomposer
Omnivore
Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture
produce 1-consumer 2-con con
herbivore carnivore carnivore
Sample food chains with energy roles labeled:

15. Food Webs
A Food Web consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem.
It better represents the transfer of energy than a food chain.
Food Web video Clip

18. Energy Pyramid
An Energy Pyramid shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web. The most energy is at the producer level. At each level there is less available energy.

19. Biomass. The measure of the total. dry mass of organisms in a
Biomass The measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area. Producer
(bottom level) always the biggest level, always have the largest biomass.

20. Trophic level A level in an energy pyramid

22. Energy Roles Worksheet
Get out your energy roles worksheet and make an energy pyramid for each food chain.
Do not include decomposers in the energy pyramid. 1.
Shark
Sea lion
Big Fish
Sm. fish
Algae

23. Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar3. 2.
Blue Bird
Hawk
Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Sparrow
Dragon fly
Passion Vine
Lavender Bush 4. 5.
Polar Bear
Raccoon
Seal
Mos. Fish
Arctic Cod
Mos. larvae
Phytoplankton
Algae