1. Nutrition and Energy Flow

2. Energy Energy is the ability to cause change.
It is necessary to carry out the function of life.
The ultimate source for energy in our solar system is our Sun
In order to use any energy it must be converted into a usable form.
Ex: thermal energy

3. In the living world the energy still comes from the sun
Autotroph (producers) are the first step in the conversion chain after the sun. Perform photosynthesis. Typically green in color.
Auto= self
Troph= food

4. Heterotrophs (consumers) are the second level of conversion.
4 types of heterotrophs
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
Decomposer

5. Herbivore Plant eaters Herba=grass Vorare= to devour (consume)
Typically first order heterotrophs
Ex:
Rabbits, grasshoppers, beavers, squirrels, bees, elephants, fruit-eating bats, and some humans

6. Carnivore Meat eaters Caro=flesh Vorare= to devour
Typically second order heterotrophs
Ex:
Lions, tigers, hawks, owls, dogs, etc.

7. Omnivore Eats both plants and animals Ominus=all Vorare=to devour
Typically third order heterotrophs.
Ex:
Bears, mice, raccoons, most humans, etc.

8. Decomposers Break down complex compounds into simpler molecules.
This include releasing things like carbon stuck in a dead body back into the environment so it can make a new body for some other organism.
They play a key part in most of the nutrient cycles in biology
Ex:
Bacteria, fungi, protozoans, etc

9. Content Check What is an autotroph? What is a carnivore?
What is the difference between a first level heterotroph and a third level heterotroph?
A fungus is an example of what?

10. Content Check Answers What is an autotroph? What is a carnivore?
A producer that creates its own food
What is a carnivore?
A meat eater (only eats meat)
What is the difference between a first level heterotroph and a third level heterotroph?
1st level eats producers, 3d level eats animals that ate the 1st level
A fungus is an example of what?
Decomposer

11. Energy and Matter Flow
In order to trace the flow of energy and matter in a an ecosystem we use food chains and webs.
Each level in a food chain or web is called a trophic level.

12. Food Chains and Webs

13. Ecological Pyramids
Another way to analyze the flow of nutrients and energy is to use ecological pyramids.
There are three main pyramids we will go over
Energy
Numbers
Biomass

14. Pyramid of Energy Describes the amount of energy at each trophic level
Each level only has 10% of the previous level. The other 90% is lost as heat.
Parasites, scavengers, and decomposers feed at all levels

15. Pyramid of Numbers
Describes the number of organisms available at each level.

16. Pyramid of Biomass
Describes how much each level above needs to consume to meet its need.

17. Content Check Compare food chains and webs.
Each link in a food chain or web represents what?
Explain the interactions among organisms in the three different pyramids.
How much energy is lost to heat at each level?
What does the law of conservation of mass and energy mean?

18. Content Check Compare food chains and webs.
Food chains imply that the removal of a link stops the flow of energy. Food webs show a more accurate representation of what is happening. Both show how energy flows through the system.
Each link in a food chain or web represents what?
A trophic level
Explain the interactions among organisms in the three different pyramids.
Pyramid of energy= shows how energy transfers though the system
Pyramid of numbers= shows how numbers between levels differ
Pyramid of biomass= shows how much material is needed to make the amount at the next level
How much energy is lost to heat at each level?
90%
What does the law of conservation of mass and energy mean?
We have a set amount of both and can neither gain nor loose it, just change its appearance and availability.

19. Biogeochemical Cycles
Matter is not used up, it is transformed. (the same molecules are passed around the system)
This is an example of conservation of mass.
We will look at 4 types of cycles for this class
Water
Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus.

20. Water Cycle Evaporation Precipitation Condensation Transpiration
Runoff
Ground water

21. Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Combustion
Fossil fuels

22. Nitrogen Cycle

23. Phosphorus cycle