1

Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

Food Chains, Food Webs, Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

2

•Begins with the Begins with the SUNSUN•PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2

3

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis•Chemical reaction where green Chemical reaction where green plants use plants use water & carbon dioxidewater & carbon dioxide to to store the store the sun’s energy in glucosesun’s energy in glucose•ENERGY is stored in ENERGY is stored in glucoseglucose•Glucose is stored as Glucose is stored as starchstarch in plants in plants

4

Organisms that Organisms that can make glucose can make glucose

during during photosynthesis photosynthesis

are calledare called PRODUCERS.

5

ProducersProducers use use most of the most of the energy they energy they

makemake for for themselvesthemselves..

6

Producers use Producers use cellular cellular

respirationrespiration to to supply the supply the

energy they energy they need to live.need to live.

7

CELLULAR CELLULAR RESPIRATIONRESPIRATION is is

the chemical the chemical reaction that reaction that releases the releases the

energy in energy in glucoseglucose..

6O2 + C6H12O6 -->  6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

8

The The energy that is energy that is not used by not used by

producersproducers can be can be passed on to passed on to

organisms that organisms that cannot make their cannot make their

own energy.own energy.

9

Organisms that Organisms that cannot make their cannot make their

own energy are own energy are called called

CONSUMERSCONSUMERS..

10

Consumers that eat Consumers that eat producersproducers to get energyto get energy::•Are first order (1st) or primary consumers•Are herbivores (plant-eaters)

11

MostMost of the of the energy the energy the

primary primary consumer gets consumer gets

from the from the producer is producer is used by the used by the consumerconsumer..

12

SomeSome of the of the energy moves energy moves

into the into the atmosphere as atmosphere as

heatheat..

13

Some energy in Some energy in the primary the primary consumer is consumer is

STOREDSTORED && not lost not lost to the atmosphere to the atmosphere

or used by the or used by the consumer itself.consumer itself.

This This energyenergy is is availableavailable for for

another another consumerconsumer (predator).(predator).

14

A Consumer that Eats A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Another Consumer for

Energy:Energy:•Is called a Is called a secondary or secondary or 2nd 2nd order consumerorder consumer•May be a May be a carnivorecarnivore or a or a omnivoreomnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

15

MostMost of the of the energy the energy the secondary secondary

consumer gets consumer gets from the from the primary primary

consumer is consumer is used by the used by the secondary secondary consumerconsumer..

16

SomeSome of the of the energy is energy is lost lost as heatas heat, but , but some energy some energy

is and can is and can passed passed storedstored on to another on to another

consumerconsumer..

17

A consumer that eats a A consumer that eats a consumer that already consumer that already

ate a consumer:ate a consumer:•Is called a Is called a 3rd order3rd order or or tertiary consumertertiary consumer•May be a May be a carnivore carnivore or a omnivoreor a omnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

18

Consumers that eat Consumers that eat producers & other producers & other

consumersconsumers

Are called Are called omnivoreomnivore

ssOmnivoreOmnivore

s eat s eat plantsplants and and

animalsanimals

19

Consumers that hunt Consumers that hunt & kill other & kill other

consumers are called consumers are called predatorspredators..

The animals that are The animals that are hunted & killed are hunted & killed are

called called preyprey..

20

Consumers that eat Consumers that eat other dead other dead

consumers are called consumers are called scavengersscavengers

21

The The transfer of energytransfer of energy from the from the sunsun to to producerproducer to primary consumer then to primary consumer then to higher order to higher order consumersconsumers can be shown in acan be shown in a FOOD FOOD

CHAINCHAIN..

22

Food Chains Show Available Food Chains Show Available EnergyEnergy

23

More Food ChainsMore Food Chains

24

Another way Another way of showing of showing the transfer the transfer of energy in of energy in

an an ecosystem is ecosystem is

thetheENERGY ENERGY

PYRAMIDPYRAMID

25

Energy Pyramids ShowEnergy Pyramids Show •Amount of available Amount of available energy energy decreasesdecreases for for higher consumershigher consumers•Amount of available Amount of available energy energy decreasesdecreases down down the food chainthe food chain•It takes a It takes a large large number of producersnumber of producers to to support a small number support a small number of primary consumersof primary consumers•It takes a It takes a large large number of primary number of primary consumersconsumers to support a to support a small number of small number of secondary consumerssecondary consumers

26

27

Food Webs:Food Webs:

•Are Are interconnected interconnected food chainsfood chains•They show They show the the feeding feeding relationships relationships in an in an ecosystemecosystem

28

How Many Chains are in this web?

29

Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers:Decomposers:

Count the Count the Food Food

Chains!Chains!