Energy FlowEnergy Flow

Who eats what in an Who eats what in an ecosystem?ecosystem?

Ecosystems are structured by who eats Ecosystems are structured by who eats whom. A whom. A trophictrophic level level is the position that is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain- an organism occupies in a food chain- what it eats and what eats it. Every what it eats and what eats it. Every organism belongs to at least one feeding organism belongs to at least one feeding level or tropic level.level or tropic level.

The trophic levels are:The trophic levels are:

ProducersProducers make their own food through make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesisphotosynthesis or chemosynthesisExamples: grass, fern, cactus, flowering Examples: grass, fern, cactus, flowering plant, tree, algae, some bacteriaplant, tree, algae, some bacteria

Trophic Levels Cont.Trophic Levels Cont. ConsumersConsumers get their energy by eating producers get their energy by eating producers

or other consumers. or other consumers. Examples: mouse, starfish, turtle, paramecium, Examples: mouse, starfish, turtle, paramecium, sponge, ant, humansponge, ant, human

Trophic Levels Cont.Trophic Levels Cont.

DecomposersDecomposers break down dead break down dead organisms in an ecosystem and return organisms in an ecosystem and return the nutrients to soil, water and air. the nutrients to soil, water and air. Converts bond energy from dead and Converts bond energy from dead and decaying organisms into heat. decaying organisms into heat. Examples: fungus, bacteria,Examples: fungus, bacteria,

earthworms & insectsearthworms & insects

Who can make their own Who can make their own food?food?

AutotrophAutotroph auto means self auto means self

troph means nourishtroph means nourish An organism that produce, or make their An organism that produce, or make their

own food. Autotrophs are also called own food. Autotrophs are also called producers. (Plants & Algae)producers. (Plants & Algae)

HeterotrophHeterotroph

An organism that obtain its energy by the An organism that obtain its energy by the consumption of other organisms. consumption of other organisms.

Heterotrophs are also called consumers.Heterotrophs are also called consumers.

Types of consumers in an Types of consumers in an ecosystemecosystem

Primary ConsumerPrimary Consumer – The first consumer – The first consumer in a food chain/food web and consumes in a food chain/food web and consumes a producer. Herbivores or plant eatera producer. Herbivores or plant eater

Secondary ConsumerSecondary Consumer – The second – The second consumer in a food chain/food web. consumer in a food chain/food web.

Tertiary ConsumerTertiary Consumer – The third – The third consumer in a food chain/food web. consumer in a food chain/food web. carnivore or omnivorecarnivore or omnivore

Organisms Are Grouped by What They ConsumeOrganisms Are Grouped by What They Consume

HerbivoreHerbivore – An organism that eats – An organism that eats plants, nuts, berries ie. rabbit, deerplants, nuts, berries ie. rabbit, deer

OmnivoreOmnivore – An organism that eats – An organism that eats plants and animals ie. black bear, plants and animals ie. black bear, humanhuman

CarnivoreCarnivore – An organism that eats – An organism that eats animals ie. wolf, hawk, whaleanimals ie. wolf, hawk, whale

Organisms Cont. Organisms Cont.

ScavengerScavenger – An organism that feeds off of – An organism that feeds off of dead animals that they did not hunt or kill dead animals that they did not hunt or kill themselves. ie. vulturethemselves. ie. vulture

DecomposerDecomposer – An organism which obtains its – An organism which obtains its energy from dead or decaying organisms, thus energy from dead or decaying organisms, thus returning nutrients into the soil ie. bacteria or returning nutrients into the soil ie. bacteria or fungifungi

PredatorPredator – An organism that feeds on what it – An organism that feeds on what it hunts and kills ie. coyotehunts and kills ie. coyote

PreyPrey – An organism that is hunted and – An organism that is hunted and killed for food ie: mousekilled for food ie: mouse

Food ChainFood Chain – A pathway in which – A pathway in which energy flows through an ecosystem.energy flows through an ecosystem.

Food WebFood Web – All possible pathways in – All possible pathways in which energy flows through an which energy flows through an ecosystem.ecosystem.

Energy flow… how it beginsEnergy flow… how it begins

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis – Conversion of sun’s – Conversion of sun’s energy to food energyenergy to food energy

6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + Sunlight energy O + Sunlight energy C C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22

(C(C66HH1212OO66 = food energy, chemical energy, potential = food energy, chemical energy, potential

energy - in bonds)energy - in bonds)

Energy flow…Energy flow…

Cellular respirationCellular respiration

Process by which chemical bonds (food Process by which chemical bonds (food energy) are converted to usable energy.energy) are converted to usable energy.

CC66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22 6CO 6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + ATPO + ATP (usable energy for (usable energy for

cells) cells)

Energy flow… how it beginsEnergy flow… how it begins

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis – Conversion of sun’s – Conversion of sun’s energy to food energyenergy to food energy

6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + Sunlight energy O + Sunlight energy C C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22 (C(C66HH1212OO66 = food energy, chemical energy, potential = food energy, chemical energy, potential

energy - in bonds)energy - in bonds)

Energy flow…Energy flow…

Cellular respirationCellular respiration Process by which chemical bonds (food Process by which chemical bonds (food

energy) are converted to usable energy.energy) are converted to usable energy.

CC66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22 6CO 6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + ATPO + ATP (usable energy for (usable energy for

cells) cells)