Lecture 3:

Energy Flow in an
Ecosystem

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

Energy Flow
Energy in an ecosystem originally
comes from the sun
Energy flows through Ecosystems
from producers to various levels
of consumers to decomposers

Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Producers
Sunlight is the main
source of energy
for most life on
earth.
Producers contain
chlorophyll & can
use energy directly
from the sun
Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Autotrophs

An Autotroph is any organism

that can produce its own food
supply!
Autotrophs are also called
Producers
Plants, algae, some protists, &
some bacteria are examples
Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Niche of a Autotrophs

Captures energy and transforms

it into organic, stored energy for
the use of living organisms.
May be photoautotrophs using
light energy (e.g. plants)
May be chemoautotrophs using
chemical energy (e.g.
cyanobacteria)
Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Photoautotroph

A producer that captures energy

from the sun by:
Photosynthesis
Adds Oxygen to the
atmosphere
Removes Carbon Dioxide from
the Atmosphere

Bonifacio B. Magtibay,
CE, SE, MSEM

Algae

Habitat of Photoautotrophs

On Land
Plants
In The Sea
Algae
Tidal Flats & Salt Marshes
Cyanobacteria

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

Chemoautotrophs
Capture energy from the bonds
of inorganic molecules such as
Hydrogen Sulfide
Process is called Chemosynthesis
Often occurs in deep sea vents or
gut of animals
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

Consumers

Consumers or heterotrophs
eat other organisms to
obtain energy. (e.g.
animals)
Herbivores
Eat Only Plants
Carnivores
Eat Only Other
Animals
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

10

Consumers
Omnivores (Humans)
Eat Plants & Animals
Detritivores (Scavengers)
Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains
(buzzards), e.g. vultures, hyena
Decomposers
Break down dead organic matter into
simpler substances; recycle nutrients,
e.g., Fungi & Bacteria
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

11

Feeding Relationships
Energy flows
through an
ecosystem in
one direction
from producers
to various
levels of
consumers
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

12

Feeding Relationships

Food Chain
Simple energy path through an
ecosystem
Food Web
More realistic path through an
ecosystem made of many food
chains
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

13

Food Chain
1st order
Consumer

2nd Order
Consumer

3rd Order
consumer

4th Order
Consumer

Producer (trapped sunlight & stored food)

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE,
MSEM

14

Name the Producer, Consumers &

Decomposers in this food chain:

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

15

Food Web

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

16

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE,

MSEM

17

Trophic Levels

Each level in a food chain or food

web is a trophic Level.
Producers
Always the first trophic level
How energy enters the system
Herbivores
Second trophic level
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

18

Trophic Levels

Carnivores/Omnivores
Make up the remaining
trophic levels

Each level depends on the

one below it for energy.
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

19

Ecological Pyramids

Graphic representations of the

relative amounts of Energy or
Matter at each trophic level
May be:
Energy Pyramid
Biomass Pyramid
Pyramid of Numbers
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

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Energy Pyramid
Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

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Biomass Pyramid

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

22

Pyramid of Numbers

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, CE, SE, MSEM

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