Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

The Start of Energy Flow Begins with the SUN Photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll  C6H12O6 + 6O2 carbon dioxide water glucose (sugar) oxygen

How do organisms obtain energy? PRODUCERS (autotrophs) make their own food. Ex: plants, algae Consumers (heterotrophs) Eat producers and other organisms

Primary Consumers (first order heterotrophs) - Eat producers Types of Consumers Primary Consumers (first order heterotrophs) - Eat producers - Ex: deer, rabbit

Types of Consumers Secondary Consumers (second order heterotrophs) Eat primary consumers; carnivores Ex: fox, mouse

Tertiary Consumers (third order heterotroph) Types of Consumers Tertiary Consumers (third order heterotroph) Eat the secondary consumers; carnivores Ex: wolf, snake

Decomposers Decomposers – Break down the remains of dead organisms Ex: bacteria, worms, fungi Known as “nature’s recyclers”

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Food Chains – the arrows represent the flow of energy from one organisms to the next Hawk Mouse Grass Notice the direction of the arrow!

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Food Webs – represent the many possible pathways energy can flow in an ecosystem

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Energy Pyramids - represent the loss of energy from 1 level to the next Ex: There is less energy as you go up the pyramid 10 Kcal Hawk 100 Kcal Snake *Only 10% of the energy passes to the next level. *90% of the energy is used or lost at each trophic level 1,000 Kcal Rabbit Grass 10,000 Kcal

Where does the energy go? Most of the energy passed between trophic levels is used by the organism, and some of the energy that is lost at each level is lost in the form of HEAT.

Energy Pyramids

Brain Pop – Energy Pyramids http://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/energypyramid/

Energy Pyramid Examples In the food chain grass  mouse  snake  eagle if a mouse eats the grass and then a snake eats the mouse, about how much energy from the grass is stored in the mouse?

Energy Pyramid Examples 2. How much energy is available to the organism in level C? a. all of the energy in level A plus the energy in level B b. all of the energy in level A minus the energy in level B c. some of the energy in level B d. all of the energy in level B