Flow of Matter Energy in an Ecosystem When

When you eat food, such as an apple, you consume matter. Matter, in the

The apple also contains energy from sunlight that was trapped in the plant during

Food Chains – Simple Models Food chains are simple models of matter and energy

Food Webs More complex model than a food chain. A food web shows all

• You know that herbivores are plant eaters, carnivores are meat eaters, and

Energy Pyramid This model can show the energy flow through an ecosystem. There is

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Flow of Matter & Energy in an Ecosystem

When you eat food, such as an apple, you consume matter. Matter, in the form of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements, flows through the levels of an ecosystem from producers to consumers. In doing so, the matter is cycled.

The apple also contains energy from sunlight that was trapped in the plant during the process of photosynthesis. As the apple’s matter cycles through the ecosystem, some of the trapped energy is transferred from one level to the next. At each level, a certain amount of energy is also transferred to the environment as heat.

Food Chains – Simple Models Food chains are simple models of matter and energy flow in the ecosystem. Nutrients and energy move from autotrophs (ex: plants) to heterotrophs (ex: herbivores and carnovores) and, eventually, to decomposers. (The arrows represent direction of energy flow).

Food Webs More complex model than a food chain. A food web shows all possible feeding relationships in each trophic level in the community (interconnected or interrelated food chains)

• You know that herbivores are plant eaters, carnivores are meat eaters, and omnivores eat both plants and meat. • The ending “vore” is derived from the Latin word “vorare, ” which means “To devour. ”

Energy Pyramid This model can show the energy flow through an ecosystem. There is a loss of 90% of the energy transfer at each trophic level.