Energy Flow in Ecosystems Components of an Ecosystem

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Components of an Ecosystem • living and non-living things interact with each other in an ecosystem – biomass – total mass of all living matter in an area – abiotic factors – non-living things – biotic factors – living things

Abiotic Factors The four major abiotic components are: a. climate b. soil, dead material, and rock c. topography d. natural disturbances

Biotic Factors Biotic factors are anything that is living: a. plants b. animals c. microscopic organisms

Abiotic Factors Find the abiotic and biotic factors

Biotic Factors Find the abiotic and biotic factors

Energy Roles • Energy enters an ecosystem as sunlight • Energy flows through an ecosystem in a cycle • Each organism has a role to play in this energy flow – Producer – Consumer – Decomposer

Producers Autotrophs • Producers make their own food and are the source of all the energy in an ecosystem • Autotrophs – Plants, algae, grass, trees, flowers, bacteria, plankton

Producers

Consumers Heterotrophs • Cannot make their own food • Get their energy from consuming other organisms • Heterotrophs – herbivores – carnivores – omnivores

Consumer - Herbivore

Consumer - Carnivore

Consumer - Omnivore

Decomposers and Scavengers • Decomposers break down waste and return the raw materials into the soil • Waste and dead organisms must be removed from the environment – Bacteria – Fungi – Carrion eaters like vultures, coyotes, maggots

Decomposers and Scavengers

Food Chains • A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy. – first organism in a food chain is always a producer – Next organisms are consumers

Food Chains • Decomposers can be at any level

Food Chain

Food Web • A food chain just shows one track of energy flow • A food web consists of many overlapping food chains • Organisms can play more than one role in a food web

Food Web

Food Web

Trophic Level Organisms can be divided into trophic levels • producers are at the bottom • Next are primary consumers (herbivores) • Secondary consumers (omnivores or carnivores) • Tertiary consumers (omnivores or carnivores)

Trophic Level

Energy Pyramids • An energy pyramid shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web • At each level upward, the amount of energy decreases due to use

Energy Pyramids • When an organism eats food, it obtains energy • The organism uses some of this energy for living (about 90%) • Not all of this energy is available to the next consumer in line (only 10% moves to the next level)

Energy Pyramids • The most energy is available at the producer level • The amount of energy at the producer level determines how many organisms an ecosystem can support • The least amount of energy is available at the third level or tertiary consumer

Energy Pyramids

Energy Pyramids

Cycling of Energy • Once an organism dies, decomposers take over and break down the material it was made of • These nutrients are put back into the soil • Plants then use those nutrients along with sunlight to recycle that energy back into the food chain

• Energy flows through an ecosystem in a cycle

Cycling of Energy • Composting – helping the natural decomposition process break down waste • Using a compost bin, we can recycle food scraps and return those nutrients to the soil

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