Energy Flow Through Ecosystems Ecosystem and Energy Roles

Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

Ecosystem and Energy Roles Ecosystem: all living (biotic) & nonliving (abiotic) things that interact in an environment n Energy Roles in an Ecosystem q Determined by: n n n How energy is obtained Interactions with other living organisms

Some Energy Roles n Ultimate source of energy?

Producers n Convert light energy into chemical energy q n photosynthesis They are the base of every food chain q Source of food for all other organisms

Consumers n Herbivore: eats only plants; AKA primary consumer q n Ex. Cows, horses Carnivore: eats only meat; AKA secondary/tertiary consumer q Ex. Polar bear

Consumers n Omnivore: eats plants and animals q n Ex. Humans, grizzly bears Scavenger: carnivore that feeds on bodies of dead organisms q Ex. Vultures

Decomposers n Break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment q Ex. Bacteria, fungi

Food Chains n Shows the direction of energy flow in an ecosystem n Arrows always point in the direction of energy flow

Food Chains

Energy Pyramid n Shows the amount of energy that moves from one level to the next

Sample Energy Pyramid

Energy Transfer n ~10% of energy transferred from one level to the next n ~90% used by the organism or is lost to the environment

Food Webs n n n Food webs show multiple, interconnected food chains More complex Identify > 3 food chains within this web

Identify the following in this food web: n n n n Consumers Producers Primary consumers Secondary consumers Tertiary consumers Herbivores Omnivores Carnivores

How would you depict this food web as an energy pyramid?

What do we call these different levels? Hawk, cougar Robin, frog, snake Grasshopper, ant, deer, rabbit Tree, Corn Trophic Levels