Solar-poweredSolar-powered

•Almost all energy Almost all energy for living things for living things comes from the comes from the sun.sun.

•Less than 1% is Less than 1% is used by living used by living things.things.

Producers or Producers or AutotrophsAutotrophs

• Organisms who can make Organisms who can make their own food….their own food….1.1.PlantsPlants

2.2.Some algae & some Some algae & some bacteriabacteria

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis- converting - converting sunlight into energy-rich sunlight into energy-rich sugar (glucose)sugar (glucose)plants, algae & some bacteriaplants, algae & some bacteria

ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis- converting - converting energy in chemicals into energy in chemicals into sugarsugarbacteria in hot springs or volcanic ventsbacteria in hot springs or volcanic vents

•Organisms that must Organisms that must consume other consume other organisms for energy.organisms for energy.– Animals, fungi, many bacteria & protistsAnimals, fungi, many bacteria & protists

Types of ConsumersTypes of ConsumersTypeType What it eatsWhat it eats Example organismsExample organisms

HerbivoresHerbivores plants onlyplants only panda, giraffepanda, giraffe

CarnivoresCarnivores animals onlyanimals only snake, wolf, owlsnake, wolf, owl

OmnivoresOmnivores plant & animalplant & animal human, bear, human, bear, blue jayblue jay

DetritivoresDetritivores Dead plant & Dead plant & animal remainsanimal remains

snail, earthworm, snail, earthworm, mitesmites

DecomposersDecomposers Breaks down Breaks down dead stuffdead stuff

bacteria & fungibacteria & fungi

Food ChainsFood Chains• Shows what eats what & direction of Shows what eats what & direction of

energy flowenergy flow

Food Web

•Complex network of food Complex network of food chainschains– Organisms tend to eat several or even Organisms tend to eat several or even

many different things.many different things.

Trophic levelsTrophic levelseach step or level or a food chaineach step or level or a food chain

Ecological PyramidsEcological Pyramids• Diagram used to show the relative amounts of Diagram used to show the relative amounts of

energy, matter, or numbers of organisms in a food energy, matter, or numbers of organisms in a food chain.chain.

• 3 types:3 types:1. Energy pyramid—usable energy decreases as you move up from

level to level—only 10% moves on to next level

2. Biomass pyramid—amount of living tissue decreases as you move up from level to level

3. Pyramid of numbers—# of organisms usually decreases as you move up from level to level– Exception: forest—not as many trees as consumers like insects, but

much more biomass

LimitsLimits• Food chains are usually limited to 3 or 4 Food chains are usually limited to 3 or 4

links.links.– WHY?

• You lose so much energy (90% is lost, 10% moves up to next level).

• Hence, you start to run out of energy at the top.