Energy: Movement In Ecosystems - Willis' Science · •Trophic Levels: Energy flows from one...
Transcript of Energy: Movement In Ecosystems - Willis' Science · •Trophic Levels: Energy flows from one...
Why is it environmentally
harmful to remove top
predators like the wolf?
Discuss with your partner
and make a list.
Elimination of Top Predators…
• No more leftover carrion to feed
scavengers (vultures, bears, ravens)
Producers: Phototrophs
• Use sun to produce sugar(photosynthesis)
• Plants, Algae (Phytoplankton), Bacteria
• PS is 1 % efficient!
Consumers: Heterotrophs
• Break down stored sugars (aerobic respiration)
• C6H1206 + 6H2O + 6O2 ----> 6CO2
+12H2O+ Energy
Consumers: Heterotrophs
• Tertiary Consumers: Eat secondary consumers, top, apex predators
Gre
at W
hite
Decomposers: Saprotrophs
• Feed off dead organic © matter in soil, release nutrients.
• Fungi and Bacteria
Importance of Decomposers
1. Make vital elements available to primary producers.
Convert organic material into inorganic materials that producers can use in soil or water.
Chains vs Webs
• Simple vs Complex
• Trophic Levels: Energy flows from one trophic level to another
FOOD WEBS
• Show multiple ways energy can move through an ecosystem
• More connections, more stable in a changed environment
Bu-Bye Energy!
• Orgs are not 100% efficient
• Only 10% of energy at 1 level makes it to the next level (90% lost as heat)
Biomass: Mass of organic material
• Not a typical pyramid shape
• Consumers may eat most of
producers as they are made
Pyramid of Biomass
So, Why Should We All Be
Vegetarians?
Go
Bla
nk!
Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
• Energy that
remains in
plants after
respiration;
available to
consumers
• NPP= GPP
-- Resp.