Energy Flow in Ecosystems Everything organisms do in an ecosystem requires ENERGY!!!

The Ultimate Source of Energy for ALL Ecosystems

Primary Productivity Rate at which organic material is produced by photosynthetic organisms

Producers Make energy-storing molecules

Consumers Consume other organisms to get energy to build molecules

Energy moves through TROPHIC levels Food Chain Food Web Describes path of energy flow

Trophic Levels: Producers are the first (bottom) level

Trophic Levels: Consumers make up the additional levels (1, 2, 3)

Consumers Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Eat plants and meat Eat meat Omnivores Eat plants and meat Detritivores (decomposers) Eat organic waste and dead material Necessary for the recycling of nutrients

Primary Consumers Eat producers Herbivores Second trophic level

Secondary Consumers Eat primary consumers (herbivores) Carnivores Omnivores

Tertiary Consumers Eat other carnivores Top of food chain

Energy is always lost when energy is transferred – heat Amount of energy decreases as it passes through ecosystem Only 10% is transferred Energy Pyramid Represents flow of energy

Energy Pyramid

Energy Pyramid Trophic levels are limited due to available energy Too much is lost to support top Amount of energy available = biomass Not number of organisms – too inaccurate

Biomass Dry weight of tissue and other organic material Each higher level contains only 10% of biomass found in level below it

Food Web Food Chain