Energy Flow Through

EcosystemsA look at food webs & viable ecosystems

• The process of solar energy travelling down one trophic level to another and cycling back in sequence.

The Energy Cycle – What is it?

• First, the sun produces energy that protrudes through the atmosphere

- an average of 30% is reflected back into space

• Second, that energy is absorbed by the vegetation on Earth and made useable through photosynthesis

- Roughly 70% is captured

How it Works

• Thirdly, the herbivores or the secondary consumers, eat the plants

• Fourthly, the carnivores consume the herbivores

• And lastly the decomposers consume the last bits of the decaying waste

Continued

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RBHfjZsUQ

Continued

Example

Up to 90% of the energy can lost in the form of heat with each transfer

• The energy cycle is located in the biosphere

Location

• Without this cycle there would be no sun

• Without the energy from the sun there would be no plants

• Without plants there would be no herbivores

• Without herbivores there would be no carnivores

• And without all of that there would be no us; no sustainable planet

What’s the Purpose?

• An example of the passing of energy though a complex food chain and ecosystem is simply by a food web

Real World Example

• Another example is a pond ecosystem

• Main source is still the sun which grows water plants to feed the consumers

Continued

• So much of our land is devoted to agriculture

• Over 40% of earths land is now agriculture 

• However, our agriculture is more of a food source to live stock than humans

Affects on the Economy

• Animals are expensive to raise and thus meat can be expensive

• We give the agriculture with the most amount of energy to the livestock and by the time it gets to us the energy level is drastically reduced 

The Negative

- Loss of keystone species - Compromised food webs - Potential source of income is lost- Source of resource and/or food is lost- Decreased viability and health of

ecosystem - Loss of cultural diversity

Potential Consequences of Interruption

- Introduction of invasive species

How Humans Alter the Cycle

- Overexploitation of natural resources- Alteration/Degradation of Ecosystems- Removal of native species for the endangered pet trade- Extermination of keystone species- Habitat Loss/Fragmentation

How Humans Alter the Cycle

Protecting the Cycle

Protecting the Cycle