Lesson 2

How Do Living Things Get Energy?

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (including algae) use sunlight to make sugar from carbon dioxide and water. – Producers (which include some single-celled organisms) carry

out this process• Photosynthesis releases oxygen that other animals (fish,

snails, etc.) use to breathe.– Respiration – the process of taking in oxygen and releasing

carbon dioxide to get energy

Sunlight + water + CO2 sugar + oxygen

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis/Respiration Cycle

• Consumers - organisms that feed on other organisms for energy.– Animals, including fish and crickets

• Scavengers – animals that feed on the bodies of dead organisms.– Including isopods and snails

• Decomposers – an organism that helps to break down and decay dead organisms and the wastes of living organisms.

How Do Living Things Get Energy?

Plants & Animals in our Ecocolumn

• Aquarium– Duckweed – multiplies rapidly, but can cut off light from

other water plants– Elodea – easy to grow and can survive in poor conditions, but

can clog waterways/crowd other plants– Algae – comes in all sizes (microscopic to gigantic) and many

colors– Mosquito Fish – strong; survive in wide range of temps; don’t

mind change; eat elodea and mosquito larvae (immature mosquitos); live-bearers (fry born alive and fully formed)

– Snail – a gastropod, soft body protected by shell, “foot” that releases film of mucus to help it move; sees poorly, cannot hear; reproduce by laying eggs; a scavenger

Plants & Animals in our Ecocolumn

• Terrarium– Isopod – name means “equal legs”; close relative

of the lobster, crab, shrimp; has an exoskeleton which it molts (sheds) in order to grow; a scavenger

– Cricket – long antennae help them feel, taste, smell, detect humidity and temperature; male’s wings are used for chirping; have two spines used to sense vibrations in the air and ground; females lay eggs