Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

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Nearly all of Earth’s energy begins with the sun!

• Sunlight is necessary for organisms to produce their own energy.

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Organisms that make their own energy (glucose) during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS. Plants are producers

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• The process by which plants (producers) make food is called "photosynthesis".

• "photo" = light

"synthesis" = putting together• This happens to EVERY plant, and to some

bacteria and algae, too. Without photosynthesis, plants wouldn't exist

Photosynthesis

What do plants need for photosynthesis to occur?

•ENERGY is stored in glucose

• A process in which plants, animals, and humans take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

• Plants- Take in oxygen through the stoma and use it to get the energy they need to burn food.

• Humans and animals- Take in oxygen to help them burn digested food and get energy.

Respiration

CELLULAR RESPIRATION Chemical reaction that converts glucose and oxygen into usable energy that allows organisms to perform the necessary life processes.

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6O2 + C6H12O6  6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

It’s a cycle! The O2—CO2 cycle or photosynthesis/ respiration cycle.

Photosynthesis Respiration

Occurs in the presence of light (and chlorophyll in plant cells)

Occurs at all times in cells

Requires energy (light) to make glucose (sugar)

Releases energy from glucose (sugar)

Carbon dioxide and water are needed.

Carbon dioxide and water are the waste products.

Oxygen is given out. Oxygen is taken in.

Photosynthesis vs. Respiration

http://www.neok12.com/php/watch.php?v=zX787d585f475a015b5c7c06&t=Photosynthesis

• Transpiration is the flow of water through a plant.

• Transpiration is essentially evaporation of water from plant leaves.

• Studies have revealed that about 10 percent of the moisture found in the atmosphere is released by plants through transpiration. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycletranspiration.html

• An acre of corn gives off about 3,000-4,000 gallons (11,400-15,100 liters) of water each day, and a large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons (151,000 liters) per year. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycletranspiration.html

• Transpiration

Transpiration

Interactions Within Ecosystems

Ecology—the scientific study of interactions between different organisms their environment

An ecologist would study organisms that live in an ecosystem. Ecosystems are a network of living and non-living things that interact. The size of the ecosystem depends on the shared similarities between living and non-living things—can be small or very large.

Biotic—living factors that influence an ecosystem

Abiotic—non-living factors that influence an ecosystem

Who makes up an ecosystem?• Organisms within an ecosystem are

classified into:–Individuals—singular organisms–Populations—all the individuals that belong

to one species in a habitat–Communities—all the combined

populations in a habitat

• Ecological Niche – an organism’s role in an ecosystem. This includes its: place in the food web, habitat (home), breeding area, etc.

• Within ecosystems, each organism has its own specific niche. No two species fulfill exactly the same role.

Example: The ecological niche of a sunflower growing in a backyard includes: absorbing light, water and nutrients (for photosynthesis), providing shelter and food for other organisms (e.g. bees, ants, etc.), and giving off oxygen into the atmosphere.

• If a new, exotic species is introduced into an ecosystem, it will have to compete with any species that is already fulfilling the same niche the new species would. Eventually, one of the two species will be out-competed and cannot survive in the ecosystem. During this process, the entire ecosystem will be disrupted.

Terrestrial Ecosystems• Terrestrial ecosystems are limited by four major abiotic

factors:1. Soil2. Available Water3. Temperature4. Sunlight

Aquatic Ecosystems• These ecosystems are affected by three major

abiotic factors: – chemical environment (level of dissolved

oxygen)– light levels (this is the most important

abiotic factor)– Water temperature

Relationships within an Ecosystem

Consumers that eat producers to get energy…

• primary consumers•Must be herbivores (plant-eaters) or omnivores (plant and meat eaters)

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Organisms that cannot make their Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called own energy are called CONSUMERS.CONSUMERS.

MostMost of the energy the primary of the energy the primary consumer gets from the producer is consumer gets from the producer is used by the consumer.used by the consumer.

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Some energy in the primary Some energy in the primary consumer is consumer is STOREDSTORED && not lost to not lost to the atmosphere or used by the the atmosphere or used by the consumer itself.consumer itself.

This energy is This energy is availableavailable for another for another consumer consumer (predator).(predator).

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A Consumer that Eats Another A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Energy:Consumer for Energy:

•Is called a Is called a secondarysecondary consumerconsumer•May be a May be a carnivorecarnivore or a or a omnivoreomnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

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MostMost of the energy the secondary of the energy the secondary consumer gets from the primary consumer gets from the primary consumer is used by the secondary consumer is used by the secondary consumer.consumer.

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A consumer that eats a consumer that A consumer that eats a consumer that already ate a consumer:already ate a consumer:

•Is called Is called tertiary tertiary consumerconsumer•May be a May be a carnivore or a carnivore or a omnivoreomnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

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Consumers that eat other dead Consumers that eat other dead consumers are called consumers are called scavengersscavengers

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All dead and decaying matter at each All dead and decaying matter at each level is broken down by level is broken down by decomposersdecomposers such as bacteria and fungi. The recycling such as bacteria and fungi. The recycling of raw materials and nutrients back into of raw materials and nutrients back into the soil after decomposition—a process the soil after decomposition—a process call call biodegradationbiodegradation, is vital to all , is vital to all ecosystems. ecosystems. 30

The The transfer of energy transfer of energy from the from the sunsun to to producerproducer to primary consumer then to to primary consumer then to higher order higher order consumersconsumers can be shown in a can be shown in a FOOD CHAINFOOD CHAIN..

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Another way of showing the Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an transfer of energy in an ecosystem is theecosystem is theENERGY PYRAMIDENERGY PYRAMID

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Energy Pyramids ShowEnergy Pyramids Show •Amount of available energy Amount of available energy decreasesdecreases for higher order for higher order consumersconsumers•It takes a It takes a large number of large number of producersproducers to support a small to support a small number of primary number of primary consumersconsumers•It takes a It takes a large number of large number of primary consumersprimary consumers to to support a small number of support a small number of secondary consumerssecondary consumers

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Remember: Every chemical process that happens in your body releases heat as a byproduct (ex: burning calories).

Rule of 10—only about 10% of the available energy within a trophic level is transferred to the next higher trophic level

Biomass Pyramid—represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level

Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid

100%

10%

1%

0.1%

Food Webs:Food Webs:

•Are Are interconnectedinterconnected food chainsfood chains•They show the They show the feeding feeding relationships relationships in an in an ecosystemecosystem

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Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers:Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers:

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Count the Count the Food Food

Chains!Chains!