Energy Flow (Part 1)

Why do we need energy in an Ecosystem Every organism requires energy to carry out life process: Growing Moving Reproducing

Producers (Autotroph) Can convert light from sun to the chemical energy (SUGAR). Example: plants and zooplankton

Producers Supports all other tropic levels Terrestrial Ecosystem (on land) plants are the producers Aquatic Ecosystem (sea) phytoplankton bacteria algae aquatic plants are the producers

Consumers (Heterotroph) Obtain chemical energy (SUGAR) by eating producers or other consumers

Consumers In trophic levels above producers Categorized by what they eat Herbivore – eats only producers Not just plant eaters

Carnivore Eats other consumers

Eats both producers and other consumers Omnivore Eats both producers and other consumers

Consumers Primary Consumers – feeds directly on producers In Terrestrial Ecosystem – grazing mammals like deer In Aquatic Ecosystem – can be zooplankton

Consumers Secondary Consumers – eat primary consumers In Terrestrial Ecosystem – eat insects, carnivores that eat rodents and grazing mammals In Aquatic Ecosystem – Small fish (eat zooplankton)

Consumers Tertiary Consumers – (3rd Level Consumer) eat secondary consumer

Decomposers Break down waste and dead organisms Example: bacteria and fungi They recycle chemicals within an ecosystem

The Path of Energy Energy is not recycled within an ecosystem, but flows through it and out. Producers must continue to receive energy so they can transfer that energy; if not the ecosystem could not survive.

Food Chains Trophic Level – A feeding level in an ecosystem Food Chain – the pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another

Food Webs Food Web – the pattern of feeding by interconnected and branching food chains. - a bunch of food chains put together

Energy Diagrams Energy Pyramids (AKA Food Pyramid) energy loss from one level to the next. only 10% of available energy is actually transferred. 90% is lost as HEAT.

The Carbon and Oxygen Cycle CO₂ is also released to the atmosphere by: decomposers Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) Forest Fires Volcanic eruptions Animal breathe out CO2 Plants absorb CO2

The Carbon and Oxygen Cycle

Mostly involves nonliving processes The Water Cycle Mostly involves nonliving processes Evaporation of oceans Transpiration – Evaporation from plant’s leaves Condensation in clouds Precipitation (rain)

Human Activities vs. Ecosystem Deforestation – The clearing of forest for agriculture, lumber, and other uses eliminating plants that absorb CO₂ Greenhouse Effect – the process by which atmospheric gases trap heat

Human Activities vs. Ecosystem Acid Rain – the precipitation that contains nitric and/or sulfuric acids. Pollution – The addition of substances to the environment that results in a negative effect.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources Resource – any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food ,or space. Renewable Resource – can be produced or replaced by a healthy ecosystem.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources Nonrenewable Resource – natural processes cannot replenish them within a reusable amount of time.

Sustainable Resources Sustainable Development – using resources in such an environmentally conscious way