1 Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Pyramids copyright cmassengale

BELLWORK The Law of Conservation of Energy says that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Yet somehow all of the organisms in our ecosystem are constantly able to get energy to survive. Where does all of this energy in the ecosystem originally come from?

3 Begins with the SUNBegins with the SUN PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + sunlight & chlorophyll  C6H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 copyright cmassengale

4Photosynthesis Chemical reaction where green plants use water & carbon dioxide to store the sun’s energy in glucose Chemical reaction where green plants use water & carbon dioxide to store the sun’s energy in glucose ENERGY is stored in glucose ENERGY is stored in glucose Glucose is stored as starch in plants Glucose is stored as starch in plants copyright cmassengale

5 Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS. copyright cmassengale

6 Producers use cellular respiration to supply the energy they need to live. copyright cmassengale

7 CELLULAR RESPIRATION is the chemical reaction that releases the energy in glucose. 6O 2 + C 6 H 12 O 6 --> 6H 2 O + 6CO 2 + energy copyright cmassengale

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

9 Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called CONSUMERS. copyright cmassengale

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

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

12 A consumer that eats a consumer that already ate a consumer: Is called a 3rd order or tertiary consumer Is called a 3rd order or tertiary consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a carnivore or a omnivore copyright cmassengale

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

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

15 Consumers that eat other dead consumers are called scavengers copyright cmassengale

Some organisms get their nutrients by breaking down dead organisms. These organisms are called decomposers. Examples: fungi, bacteria

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

18 More Food Chains copyright cmassengale

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

20 Energy Pyramids Show Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumers Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumers Amount of available energy decreases down the food chain Amount of available energy decreases down the food chain It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers copyright cmassengale

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