3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems Ecology

POINT > Identify ways we conceptualize energy flow through ecosystems POINT > Describe food chains POINT > Describe food webs POINT > Describe ecological pyramids

POINT > Describe food chains A food chain is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food chains Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level The first level is always a producer Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food chains Each step is called a trophic level Consumers make up all the other levels Primary consumer (First Level) Secondary consumer (Second) Tertiary consumer (Third) Quaternary consumer (Fourth) Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food chains Arrows always point to where the energy is going Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food chains Ex. A marine food chain: Phytoplankton: A mix of algae, the primary producers Zooplankton: A diverse mix of protists and tiny animals consuming the phytoplankton Phytoplankton Zooplankton Small Fish Large Fish Whale Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

WB CHECK: Ex. A marine food chain: Phytoplankton Zooplankton Small Fish Large Fish Whale What trophic level are the “small fish”? Which organisms are the tertiary consumers? Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food webs Food webs are more complicated networks of feeding interactions composed of many food chains Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe food webs Ex. Antarctic Ecosystem Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

Food Web Everglades Marshland Ecosystem Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc. Everglades Marshland Ecosystem

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Ecological pyramids show the relative amount of energy or matter contained at each trophic level in a food chain or web Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Energy Pyramid: Shows relative amount of energy available at each trophic level Tertiary Consumer Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer Light Chemical Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Energy Pyramid: On average, only about 10% of energy available to a level is passed to the next level Tertiary Consumer 0.1% Secondary Consumer 1% Primary Consumer 10% Producer Light 100% Chemical Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Energy Pyramid: About 90% gets used up by the organism for various functions or is lost as heat Heat Tertiary Consumer Maintaining Homeostasis 0.1% Heat Secondary Consumer 1% Heat Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc. Primary Consumer 10% Heat 100% Producer Light Chemical

WB CHECK: How much energy is lost between trophic levels? What are the primary producers in a marine food web?

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Biomass Pyramid: Shows relative amount of living organic matter at each level Usually given as a mass per area Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

POINT > Describe ecological pyramids Numbers Pyramid: Shows relative number of individuals at each level Review the prefixes “bio” and “a.” Review “habitat” if needed. Examples of biotic factors: moose, shrubs, humans, dogs, flowers etc. Examples of abiotic factors: water, soil, rocks, air, etc.

WB CHECK: In a biomass pyramid, where is the greatest amount of biomass, the top or bottom? True or False: A population of large predators has more total biomass than a population of smaller prey animals.

Homework Read pages 73-78 Assess Page 78 #1-2 Workbook pages 345-348