1. Ecosystem Dynamics
Energy and Nutrients in the Ecosystem

2. Energy Energy…….. The ability to do work Builds cells and tissues
Growth
Reproduction
Responding to environment

3. Energy
Energy is passed from organism to organism by feeding relationships in the ecosystem!!!
Trophic Levels (feeding levels)
Each step in the transfer of energy in a community
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers

4. Producers Producers/Autotrophs: can make their own food
Use photosynthesis to convert sunlight in to chemical energy
Produce carbohydrates for immediate use or storage for later
Examples include plants, algae, and some bacteria

5. Consumers
Consumers/Heterotrophs: (obtain food by eating other organisms)
Ex: Animals, fungi, protists, and most bacteria
Types of Consumers:
Primary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Tertiary Consumers

6. The Flow of Energy
Energy flows through an ecosystem. From the sun to producers to consumers to decomposers, energy powers the interactions of ecosystems.

7. Food Chains
Shows the flow of energy from one organism to another through each trophic level
Energy flow is represented by an arrow
Arrow goes in direction of energy

8. Food Web
A food web is a representation of all of the interconnected food chains in an ecosystem
Food webs show multiple feeding relationships

9. Ecological Pyramids
Ecologists use ecological pyramids to represent the relationships among trophic levels
There are 3 types of ecological pyramids:
Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid of Biomass
Pyramid of Numbers

10. Shows total amount of incoming energy at each trophic level
Pyramid of Energy
Shows total amount of incoming energy at each trophic level
The 10% rule predicts that only 10% of the energy in one trophic level is available to the next level

11. Shows total mass of living tissue at each level
Pyramid of Biomass
Shows total mass of living tissue at each level

12. Pyramid of Numbers
Shows the total number of organisms at each trophic level

13. Organization
Species organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Population A group of the same species living in an area
Community different populations interacting in an area
Ecosystem Community interacting with its environment