Energy Pyramids and Bioaccumulation

Ecology How living things interact with each other

Who is consuming who?

Producers :(Autotrophs) can synthesize their own food from inorganic compounds and an energy source.

Photosynthesis: organisms convert light energy into chemical energy to fuel activities.

Primary Consumer: (Herbivore) feed on plants. Cannot make own food.

Secondary Consumers: feeds upon primary consumers

Secondary Consumers Primary Consumers Producers

Energy Pyramid: is a graphical model of energy flow in a community. Trophic level: where a particular organism is in the food chain

Biomass Pyramid Biomass: amount of organic matter

Energy

Decomposers: break down organic wastes and dead organisms

Bioaccumulation: gradual build up over time of a chemical in a living organism.

There are 2 main parts of a food web that are usually never shown. 1. The Sun 2.Decomposers

10% Rule 100% 1% Energy 9% Energy 10% 90% Energy

10% Rule According to the rule, only 10% of energy is transferred to the next level of the food chain, from the remaining energy. Some is used up metabolically for survival and the rest is lost as heat.

An ecosystem is self-sustaining if the following requirements are met: 1. Constant source of energy 2. Autotrophs 3. A cycling of materials between organisms and their environment.