1. Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem
Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Pyramids
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Begins with the SUN
Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2
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Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS.
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4. Producers use most of the energy they make for themselves.
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The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms that cannot make their own energy.
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6. Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called CONSUMERS.
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7. Consumers that eat producers to get energy:
Are first order (1st) or primary consumers
Are herbivores (plant-eaters)
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Most of the energy the primary consumer gets from the producer is used by the consumer.
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9. Some of the energy moves into the atmosphere as heat.
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Some energy in the primary consumer is STORED & not lost to the atmosphere or used by the consumer itself. This energy is available for another consumer (predator).
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11. A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Energy:
Is called a secondary or 2nd order consumer
May be a carnivore or a omnivore
May be a predator
May be a scavenger
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Some of the energy is lost as heat, but some energy is stored and can passed on to another consumer.
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13. Consumers that eat producers & other consumers
Are called omnivores
Omnivores eat plants and animals
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Consumers that hunt & kill other consumers are called predators. The animals that are hunted & killed are called prey.
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15. Consumers that eat other dead consumers are called scavengers
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The transfer of energy from the sun to producer to primary consumer then to higher order consumers can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN.
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17. Food Chains Show Available Energy
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More Food Chains
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Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID
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Energy Pyramids Show
Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumers
Amount of available energy decreases down the food chain
It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers
It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers
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Food Webs:
Are interconnected food chains
They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem
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22. How Many Chains are in this web? copyright cmassengale

23. Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers:
Count the Food Chains!
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