The

Sun is the source of energy for allliving systems.

Exception: Chemosynthetic organisms (chemoautotrophs).

Deep sea vents

Photo Autotrophs convert solar energy into chemical

bond energy.

Archaebacteria
Plants, algae, and bacteria
Plants covert sugars,
starches, lipids, cellulose,
proteins, etc.

Heterotrophs consume
autotrophs or other
heterotrophs

Food web

Food chain

Building block

Engineers develop processes to

liberate sugars from autotrophs.

Energy Source

Engineers optimize methods

through an iterative process to
convert sugars into alcohol.

Fermentation
(Anearobic respiration)

Engineers optimize engine design to

efIiciently use biofuels.