EQ: How is energy transferred in an ecosystem? Ecological Pyramid EQ: How is energy transferred in an ecosystem?

Where does the energy for all living things first come from? 99% of all energy for living things first comes from the sun (solar energy)

Transfer of Energy Starts with the sun’s energy Producers (plants) captures sun’s energy by photosynthesis. Animals eat plants Animals eat animals that eat plants. When plants & animals die, decomposers recycle nutrient back into soil.

Producers Producers: organisms that make food for others to eat. Include plants, bacteria, and algae Producers are also called Autotrophs

Autotrophs: organisms that can capture the sun’s energy to manufacture their own food Plants use photosynthesis to turn solar energy into sugar (chemical energy)

As plants grow, there is more leaves, fruits, roots, etc. for animals to eat from. More plants = more animals = more biomass Biomass: the total amount (mass/size) of living things (plants and animals) in an ecosystem.

Consumers Consumers: organisms that eat others for nutrient. They cannot make their own food. Consumers are also called Heterotrophs: things that eat others. There are four types of heterotrophs, depending on what they eat. Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores.

Herbivores: animals that eat only plants (producers) Don’t have to write this down Herbivores: animals that eat only plants (producers) Examples: deers, rabbits, grasshoppers, cows, zebras, etc.

Carnivores: animals that only eat other animals (meat eaters) Don’t have to write this down Carnivores: animals that only eat other animals (meat eaters)

Omnivores: animals that eat both plants and animals. Don’t have to write this down Omnivores: animals that eat both plants and animals.

Don’t have to write this down Detritivores: organisms that eat dead leaves, dead animals, or animal waste. They are scavengers and recycle dead nutrients back into the soil.

Decomposers Decomposers: bacteria and fungus that eat rotting dead animals and plants and feces. Decomposers are the last to use the energy of living things before it goes back into the soil.

Food Chain and Food Web Food Chain: a single pathway of feeding; shows how energy is transferred into different levels.

A food chain

Food Web: shows many connected food chains. Shows how complex energy transfer is.

Energy Flow We know that energy goes from sun  producers  herbivores  carnivores  decomposers. Scientist shows energy flow by a Trophic Level: A diagram that shows sequence of energy level; “feeding level” When something is eaten, not ALL of it’s energy is absorbed by the eater

Trophic Level

Why does energy become less as you move up the trophic level? Energy is lost through waste: Feces (solid waste) and Heat (repair/maintenance) So only 10% of energy goes to next level

Where did the energy go?