Energy in Ecosystems Ms. Whitworth

Energy All organisms need energy to live. Organisms use FOOD as their source of energy. THE SUN IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR CREATING OR ATTAINING THE FOOD THE ORGANISMS NEED.

AUTOTROPHS AUTOTROPHS: Organisms (such as plants) that make their own food using the sun’s energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This is also known as photosynthesis. “Auto” means self and “troph” means feeder. Another name for an autotroph is a PRODUCER.

HETETROPH HETEROTROPH: Organisms that CANNOT make their own food. “Hetero” means other A heterotroph’s energy still comes from the sun but in an indirect way. Heterotrophs eat autotrophs directly or other heterotrophs who eat autotrophs. Another name for a heterotroph is a CONSUMER.

Herbivore (Consumer) Consumers include herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers. Herbivores eat only plants. (Example are grasshoppers, mice, rabbits, deer, beavers, moose, cows, sheep, goats and groundhogs)

Omnivores (Consumer) Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Examples of omnivores are: Bears --They eat insects, fish, moose, elk, deer, sheep as well as honey, grass, and sedges. Turtles -- They eat snails, crayfish, crickets, earthworms, but also lettuce, small plants, and algae. Monkeys -- They eat frogs and lizards as well as fruits, flowers, and leaves. Squirrels -- They eat insects, moths, bird eggs and nestling birds and also seeds, fruits, acorns, and nuts.

Carnivores and Decomposers (Consumers) Carnivores eat only animals. (Examples of carnivores are foxes, frogs, snakes, hawks, and spiders.) Decomposers break down waste and remains of dead animals.

Food Chain Energy flows from producers to consumers to decomposers in every ecosystem. This is called the food chain. In simpler terms, a food chain is simply "who eats what". THERE ARE MULTIPLE FOOD CHAINS IN EVERY ECOSYTEM AND THESE FOOD CHAINS TEND TO OVERLAP. A food web can be used to illustrate the interactions between multiple food chains.

Levels of Consumers Those that feed directly from producers, i.e. organisms that eat plant or plant products are called primary consumers (hervibore). Organisms that feed on primary consumers are called secondary consumers (omnivores and carnivores). Those who feed on secondary consumers are tertiary consumers (omnivores). Some organisms, like a squirrel are at different levels. When the squirrel eats acorns or fruits (which are plant product), it is a primary consumer; however, when it eats insects or nestling birds, is it is a tertiary consumer.

Food Chain Example 1

Food Chain Example 2

EcoKids http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/index.cfm