Energy Flow in Ecosystems Chapter 2 Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Producer An organism that can make its own food is called a PRODUCER.

Consumers An organism that obtains (gets) its energy by eating another organism is a consumer. A consumer can NOT makes its own food. Types of consumers: Herbivore (eats plants) Carnivore (eats animals – meat) Omnivores (eats plants and animals)

Examples of Consumers

Scavenger A carnivore that eats dead organisms. Give an example.

Decomposers Decomposers break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the ecosystem. Natures “recyclers”

Food chain vs. Food Web What is the difference between the two?

Energy Pyramid An energy pyramid will show the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to the next. The most energy is available at the producer level and gets less as you move up the pyramid. (Remember: The base is the largest and there are more producers than anything.)

Energy Pyramid Label each level of consumer/producers Energy Pyramid Label each level of consumer/producers. Which way does the energy flow?