Energy Flow Through the Ecosystem Energy and matter

Energy Flow Through the Ecosystem

Energy and matter The Earth has internal (chemical) and external (solar) energy. That energy is used to move matter through the Earth’s systems. Energy changes the physical and chemical properties of matter.

Sustaining Life on Earth Requires Energy and Matter One-way flow of Energy Sun Chemicals Cycling of Matter

Energy in Living Systems Living systems use energy Energy used for growth, reproduction and metabolism No organism can create energy Can store it, but not create it http: //ecology. com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sun. jpg

Ecosystem energy flow Energy enters an ecosystem in 2 ways: Energy is “fixed” (stored in tissues) by organisms and moves through food webs. Heat energy is transferred (air, water, soil convection) and warms life on Earth.

Sunlight is primary source of energy for most life on Earth Exception: Chemicals used in deep sea vents

Primary Producers http: //people. westminstercollege. edu/faculty/tharrison/emigration/2_diatoms. gif http: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f 4/Le af_1_web. jpg/300 px-Leaf_1_web. jpg Primary producers capture sunlight or chemicals and convert it into useable energy. These organisms are called “autotrophs. ”

Primary Producers http: //people. westminstercollege. edu/faculty/tharrison/emigration/2_diatoms. gif Primary producers use solar or chemical energy to make complex organic compounds out of inorganic materials. Primary producers store energy. Used for their own energy needs Also used by organisms that consume them http: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f 4/Le af_1_web. jpg/300 px-Leaf_1_web. jpg

Primary Producers http: //people. westminstercollege. edu/faculty/tharrison/emigration/2_diatoms. gif Primary producers include plants, algae and certain bacteria. Use either Photosynthesis: use solar energy to make carbohydrates; release oxygen Phytoplankton (aquatic autotrophs) account for 50% of the oxygen produced http: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f 4/Le af_1_web. jpg/300 px-Leaf_1_web. jpg Chemosynthesis: use chemical energy to make carbohydrates

Consumers = heterotrophs http: //video. ecb. org/badger/download/vlc/images/VLC 124_Consumers. jpg Consumers (heterotrophs) rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients. Different types of consumers are classified by the way they get energy.

Types of Consumers: Carnivores http: //producersconsumers. wikispaces. com/file/view/lion. DD. jpg/37331363/lion. DD. jpg Carnivores kill and eat other animals. The process of obtaining meat requires energy but meat is generally high in energy and nutrients and is easy to digest.

Types of Consumers: Herbivores obtain energy from plants: roots, leaves, stems, seeds or fruits. Examples include koalas, cows, rabbits and deer. http: //www. eoearth. org/files/199301_199400/199323/koaladiet 2. jpg

Types of Consumers: Omnivores http: //www. saburchill. com/images 02/010805012. jpg Omnivores eat a variety of foods including both plants and animals. Example: Bears eat other animals but also eat berries and other plant products.

What about the human diet? Humans who are vegans (plant products only) can be considered ________. What about vegetarians who eat milk products? __________ http: //3. bp. blogspot. com/_gf. ZRLG 7 Chz. A/TQVxb_h. Ro. MI/AAAAAHk/62 yy. PSZju. Ik/s 160 0/omnivore. jpg Humans who eat meat and fat only can be considered ______. Humans who eat meat, vegetables and fruit can be considered ________.

Types of Consumers: Scavengers eat animals that have been killed by other animals or have died of other causes. Vultures are scavengers. http: //1. bp. blogspot. com/lb. Vi. VUx. Hu 10/Ti. WOpg. Nd. KNI/AAAAABk/QT 7 Hyi 8 t. TFU/s 400/vulture. jpg

Types of Consumers: Detritivores http: //www. theanimalfiles. com/images/detritivore. jpg Earthworms are detritivores. Detritivores help decompose organic matter by consuming detritus: dead animal and plant parts and organic wastes. Commonly digest decomposers that live on or in detritus

Types of Consumers: Decomposers http: //www. scienceiscool. info/pseudomonas_bacteria. jpg Decomposers chemically break down organic matter and use it for energy. Release inorganic compounds into soil Decomposers include bacteria and fungi. Mushrooms are types of fungi. http: //www. geography 4 kids. com/files/art/land_chain 4_240. jpg

Decomposers and detritivores

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem: Food Chains and Food Webs Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction -- from producers to various levels of consumers. Producers and consumers are linked through feeding relationships. http: //www. sleepingdogstudios. com/Network/Biology/foodweb_2. gif

Energy Flows Through “Trophic Levels” Each step of a food web or food chain is called a trophic level. Energy flows up from one trophic level to the next. http: //belizesharks. org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/02/trophiclevels. jpg

Trophic Levels First Trophic Level Producers (plants) Second Trophic Level Primary consumers (herbivores) Feed directly on producers Third Trophic Level Secondary consumer (carnivores) Feed on Primary Consumers Fourth Trophic Level Tertiary consumer Feed on other carnivores

Food Chains http: //gis. bcsd 5. org/Inspiration/Food%20 Chain. jpg Food chains are the series of steps through which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten. Can be short or long

Food Webs Food Web = more complicated network of feeding interactions Include interconnected food chains Removal of one organism affects all other members of the web. Remember: Decomposers and detritivores play an important role by releasing organic nutrients that can be used by the primary producers.

Identify three food chains within this food web. http: //silverfalls. k 12. or. us/staff/Read_Shari/mysite/foodweb 1. jpg Note: Energy flows in the direction of the arrow. Which is shortest? ______________ Which is longest? ______________ Describe the possible effects of a grasshopper extinction. ______________

Ecological Pyramids Diagrams used to show the relative amounts of energy or matter in each trophic level of a food chain or food web. Three types: Pyramids of Energy Pyramids of Biomass Pyramids of Numbers

Pyramid of Energy Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web

Pyramid of Energy: 10% Rule As energy is transferred up to the next trophic level, 90% of the energy is lost. Only 10% of the energy within one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

Pyramid of Energy: 10% Rule Example: A bird (1 st consumer) eats plant seeds (primary producer). Only 10% of the energy in the grass will be stored in the tissues of the bird. How much of the energy from the grass will be stored in the tissues of the hawk that eats the bird? __________

Pyramid of Biomass http: //images. tutorvista. com/content/ecosystem/biomass-upright-pyramid. jpeg The total dry mass of organisms in a trophic level is its “biomass”. A pyramid of biomass shows the relative amount of organic matter at each level. Most at primary producer level; least at the top trophic level

What does this say about the amount of primary producer biomass required to support tertiary consumers?

Pyramid of Numbers http: //images. tutorvista. com/content/ecosystem/upright-pyramid-of-numbers-grassland -pond. jpeg Shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level Generally follows the same pattern as the pyramid of biomass