Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Pyramids

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2 Begins with the SUN Photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2

Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS.

Producers use most of the energy they make for themselves.

The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms that cannot make their own energy.

Energy Transfer decreases at each trophic level Why doesn’t each organism have the same amount of energy available to them? A: Because most of the energy is used up by the organism being consumed: 90% OF INCOMING ENERGY IS USED BY THAT ORGANISM ONLY 10% IS AVAIABLE FOR THE NEXT

Energy gain/loss in a trophic pyramid

Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called CONSUMERS.

Consumers that eat producers to get energy: Are first order (1st) or primary consumers Are herbivores (plant-eaters)

A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Energy: Is called a secondary or 2nd order consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a predator May be a scavenger

A consumer that eats a consumer that already ate a consumer: Is called a 3rd order or tertiary consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a predator May be a scavenger

Consumers that eat producers & other consumers Are called omnivores Omnivores eat plants and animals

Consumers that hunt & kill other consumers are called predators Consumers that hunt & kill other consumers are called predators. The animals that are hunted & killed are called prey.

Consumers that eat other dead consumers are called scavengers

The transfer of energy from the sun to producer to primary consumer then to higher order consumers can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN.

Food Chains Show Available Energy

More Food Chains

Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID

Food Webs: Are interconnected food chains They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

How Many Chains are in this web?

Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers: Count the Food Chains!