Slide 1

The Flow of Energy Through an Ecosystem

One-Way Energy Flow: All energy on earth comes from the _______(as high quality energy)* Moves through organisms by ______________________* Becomes low quality energy and radiates as heat* Returns into space as ____________Cycling of Matter: all matter moves via cyclic patterns; all matter on earth is essentially trapped here.

sunfeeding interactionsheat

How do plants capture energy?

Producers use ____________from their environment to convert simple chemical substances (like_________)into complex organic substances (like _______________).energy (in the form of sunlight)CO2glucose_________________are the heterotrophs other feeders of an ecosystem. They must eat other organisms to get their energy.

Consumers

HeterotrophsHerbivores are the plant eaters.Ex. cows, horses, deer.

HeterotrophsCarnivores are the animal eaters.Ex: felines (cats), snakes, hawks, sharks.

HeterotrophsOmnivores eat both plant and animal matter.Ex. Humans, bears, foxes.

HeterotrophsDetritivores eat dead matter (detritus).Ex. worms, snails, crabs.

HeterotrophsDecomposers break down dead organic matter.Ex: Bacteria and fungi.

Shelf fungiEnergy FlowEnergy always flows in one direction.It flows as follows: producer herbivore carnivoredecomposer/detrivore.

Food chains

Food WebEcological PyramidsPyramid ofenergy flowPyramid ofbiomassPyramid ofnumbers

Biomass Pyramid

500 kg of biomass 15 kg of biomass (20 - 30 chipmunks)3 kg of biomass1 kg of biomassArea = acre

Pyramid of Numbers