Energy Flow in the Energy Flow in the EnvironmentEnvironment

Kim Lachler

updated

2015NCES

6.L.2.1

Three ways organisms get Three ways organisms get their energy. their energy.

The_Food_Chain__A_Flow_of_Energy.mov

• producerproducer

– – able to make their able to make their own food from own food from sunlightsunlight

Three ways organisms get Three ways organisms get their energytheir energy

• consumer consumer – – eat other organismseat other organisms

herbivore – eats only plantsherbivore – eats only plants

carnivore- eats only meatcarnivore- eats only meat

omnivore – eats both plants and meatomnivore – eats both plants and meat (note: a vegitarian is still (note: a vegitarian is still an omnivore)an omnivore)

Three ways organisms get Three ways organisms get their energytheir energy

• decomposerdecomposer

- - breaks down dead organismsbreaks down dead organisms

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity• The maximum The maximum

number of number of organisms of organisms of one species that one species that an environment an environment can supportcan support

Limiting FactorLimiting Factor• Any factor that prevents a population from growing Any factor that prevents a population from growing

larger.larger.– Density-dependent – it only affects a population Density-dependent – it only affects a population

when its density reaches a certain level.when its density reaches a certain level.• Amount of spaceAmount of space

– Density-independent – it affects the population Density-independent – it affects the population regardless regardless of it’s density.of it’s density.•Predators Predators •Weather Weather

Energy Flow ModelsEnergy Flow Models– Food chainsFood chains

shows how energy flows from 1 shows how energy flows from 1 organism to anotherorganism to another

simplisticsimplistic

Energy Flow ModelsEnergy Flow Models• Food web Food web

– shows how energy flows through the environment through the shows how energy flows through the environment through the interactions of organismsinteractions of organisms

– more real lifemore real life

Energy Flow ModelsEnergy Flow Models• Energy pyramidEnergy pyramid

– shows how the shows how the amount of energy amount of energy available becomes available becomes less as it is passed less as it is passed on from the sun on from the sun producers producers consumers.consumers.

                                                                                       

As you go up the pyramid the energy is used so there is less

available.The organisms get bigger and move more so they need more

energy.So why do you think there are

few organisms on the top of the pyramid?

BibliographyBibliography• Graphics by Jasmine ChapgarGraphics by Jasmine Chapgar Bigger food Chain, Bigger food Chain,

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain2.htm, accessed 8/31/2010, accessed 8/31/2010

• Food Web, Food Web, http://cbc.amnh.org/crisis/foodweb.html , accessed 8/31/2010 , accessed 8/31/2010• ETAP, Balance in the Ecosystems, ETAP, Balance in the Ecosystems,

https://www.etap.org/demo/biology_files/lesson6/instruction6tutor.html, accessed , accessed 8/31/20108/31/2010

• Algebra Lab, http://www.algebralab.org/practice/practice.aspx?Algebra Lab, http://www.algebralab.org/practice/practice.aspx?file=Reading_CarryingCapacity.xml, accessed 2/23/2014file=Reading_CarryingCapacity.xml, accessed 2/23/2014

• Mrs Ferson’s Science, http://mrsfrearson.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/limiting-factors-Mrs Ferson’s Science, http://mrsfrearson.weebly.com/1/post/2012/04/limiting-factors-arctic-ecosystem.html, accessed 2/23/2014arctic-ecosystem.html, accessed 2/23/2014

• Nick’s Nature Pics, http://nicksnaturepics.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/white-tailed-Nick’s Nature Pics, http://nicksnaturepics.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/white-tailed-deer-and-turkeys-feeding-in-deep-snow/, accessed 2/23/2014deer-and-turkeys-feeding-in-deep-snow/, accessed 2/23/2014

• Explorelearning, Gizmos, www.explorelearning.com, accessed 2/23/2014Explorelearning, Gizmos, www.explorelearning.com, accessed 2/23/2014