what do energy pyramids tell us? the importance of the spotted owl
TRANSCRIPT
What do Energy Pyramids tell us?
The importance of the Spotted Owl
Energy Pyramids show the flow of energy through an ecosystem
Ecologists study energy pyramids
3rd level consumers mostly carnivores & some omnivores
2nd level consumer carnivores & omnivores
1st level consumer herbivores
Producers: green plants make their own energy from sunlight
10,000 Kcal
1000 Kcal
100 Kcal
10 Kcal
1 Kcal
An energy pyramid from the Andrews
10,000 Kcal
1000 Kcal
100 Kcal
10 Kcal 0.1%
1%
10%
100%
1 Kcal 0.01%
When an owl eats a flying squirrel it uses about 90% of the calories to live—
move, digest, produce body heat, reproduce and escape from predators.
When a frog eats a cricket or a cricket eats a plant, they use 90% of those calories to move, digest, produce
body heat, reproduce and escape from predators.
Bushy tailed
wood rat
Red-backed
voles
Deer Mouse
Chipmunk
Red Tree Vole
Flying Squirrels are about half the owl’s diet
Spotted Owls need a largehome range. Home range is
the name ecologists give the amount of living area animals need to hunt enough prey to survive.
You can tell how healthy an ecosystem is by the number of 3rd level consumers living there. If there is not enough energy (prey) inan ecosystem
the area won’t be able to support 3rd level consumers.
Brush Rabbit
Snow Shoe Hare
Spotted Owls are 3rd level consumers
Spotted Owls mate for life. They live about 10 years. Mating pairs usually return to the same nest every summer to raise their young. When winter comes, the young leave the nest and mating pairs separate to find their own home range because prey is scarce.
Young Spotted Owls are born in nests at the top of tall snags.
They become fledglings when they
are old enough to leave the nest and fly
After two months the fledglings leave home
and find their own mate and home range.
around the nest area.
Northern Goshawk
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owls
Spotted Owl predators and competitors include the Northern Goshawk and the Great Horned Owl and The Barred Owl. These birds attack Spotted Owls, prey on their young, compete for prey and try to drive them out of their home range.