1. Energy flow in an ecosystem
Ecology Part 1
Energy flow in an ecosystem

2. Organization of the biosphere
Biosphere = the volume of the earth and atmosphere that supports life
Ecosystem = organisms and the non-living environment in a particular place
Community = all the interacting organisms living in an area
Population = all the members of a single species that live in one place
Organism = an individual member of a species

3. Other Factors That Affect the Ecosystem
Biotic factors – living components of the environment
Abiotic factors- non-living factors (rocks, water, air)

4. Levels of Organization

5. Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Autotrophs- organisms that produce their own energy (Producers)
Heterotrophs- organisms that cannot produce their own energy. (Consumers)
Types of Consumers: Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers
In each ecosystem there is a delicate balance between the numbers of producers and the number and types of consumers.

6. Trophic Levels
A trophic level describes how energy flows through an ecosystem
The 1st level = Producers
The 2nd level = herbivores
The 3rd level = secondary consumer (carnivores, omnivores)
Each level may contain detritivors (decomposers)

7. Trophic Levels
Food Chain
Food Web
video

8. Food Chain in an Antarctic Ecosystem

9. Food Web in an Antarctic Ecosystem

10. Grassland Food Web

11. Energy Pyramid
An energy pyramid is a diagram in which each trophic level is represented by a block, and the blocks are stacked on top of one another, with the lowest trophic level on the bottom.
The width of each block is determined by the amount of energy stored in the organisms at that trophic level.
Because the energy stored by the organisms at each trophic level is about one-tenth the energy stored by the organisms in the level below, the diagram takes the shape of a pyramid.

12. Energy Transfer Through Trophic Levels