Chapter 3 Energy Flow in An Ecosystem

Energy Flow
Through
Ecosystem
Chapter 3
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Trophic Levels
• Used to locate the position or level of an organism
during its energy-seeking activities
Rice Pugo (bird) Snake Hawk)

(producer) (primary consumer) (secondary consumer) (tertiary consumer)
• The four major trophic levels are:

oPrimary producers (plants, algae, cyanobacteria)
oPrimary consumers (herbivores)
oSecondary consumers (carnivores)
o Tertiary consumers (detritivores)
Primary producers
• Refer to photosynthetic organisms that get their
energy from the sun to make their own food
during photosynthesis
• The process whereby plants, algae, and
cyanobacteria use solar energy to produce sugar
(carbohydrates), which through cellular
respiration converts sugar into adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), the energy molecule or fuel
used by all living things
• The conversion of unusable energy is associated
with the actions of green pigment called
chlorophyll.
• Another term for producers is autotrophs
• Begins with the
SUN
• Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll

C6H12O6 + 6O2
Organisms that can
make glucose during
photosynthesis are
called PRODUCERS.
The green pigment, chlorophyll,
traps light energy that makes
water react with carbon dioxide
to produce sugar and oxygen.
Plants absorb water by its

xylem tissues that transport Through the stomata of
water from the roots to the the leaves, carbon
photosynthetic system, the dioxide are absorbed.
leaves.
Primary consumers
• Are organisms that eat autotrophs or primary
producers
• Typically herbivores
–Obtain their energy and nutrients from plants
Secondary consumer
• A carnivore directly feeding on a primary consumer
Tertiary consumer
• A carnivore that eats a secondary consumer
Onminores
• Animals that eat both plants and animals
Food Chains and Food Webs
• Food chain
–the path of food from a final consumer back to a producer
• 2 basic types of natural food chain:
oGrazer food chain – any herbivore that grazes on or
consumes plants and usually eaten by carnivore
oDetritus food chain – food sources for decomposers
comes from both plant and animal waste and their
remains
oA term used to describe any organic waste from an organism
• Food web
–Food chains that are connected at different points
How Many Chains are in
this web?
Pyramids of Energy and Biomass
• The amount of energy available in a food web
decreases with each higher feeding level
The Laws of Thermodynamics
• The basic principles that governs the amount of energy
flowing through the biosphere
• Thermodynamics – refers to the use of heat as a
convenient measurement of chemical energy in any
reaction
• First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Conservation of
Energy) – Energy can neither be created nor be
destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to
another.
• Second Law of Thermodynamics – during any
energy change, some of the energy is converted
into unusable forms, particularly heat often
referred to as waste energy
The transfer of energy from
the sun to producer to primary
consumer then to higher order
consumers can be shown in a
FOOD CHAIN.
Energy Pyramids Show
•energy
Amount of available
decreases for
higher consumers
•Amount of available
energy decreases down the
food chain
•It takes a large number
of producers to support a
small number of primary
consumers
•It takes a large number
of primary consumers to
support a small number of
secondary consumers
Producers use
most of the
energy they make
for themselves.
Producers use
cellular respiration
to supply the
energy they need
to live.
6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy
CELLULAR
RESPIRATION is
the chemical
reaction that
releases the
energy in glucose.
The energy that is not
used by producers can
be passed on to
organisms that cannot
make their own
energy.
Organisms that
cannot make their
own energy are called
CONSUMERS.
Consumers that eat producers
to get energy:
•Are first order (1st) or
primary consumers
•Are herbivores (plant-
eaters)
Mostof the
energy the
primary consumer
gets from the
producer is used
by the consumer.
Some of the
energy moves into
the atmosphere as
heat.
Some energy in the
primary consumer is
STORED & not lost
to the atmosphere or
used by the
consumer itself.
This energy is
available for another
consumer (predator).
A Consumer that Eats Another
Consumer for Energy:
•Is called a secondary or
2nd order consumer
•May be a carnivore or
a omnivore
•May be a predator
•May be a scavenger
Most of the
energy the
secondary
consumer gets
from the primary
consumer is used
by the secondary
consumer.
Some of the
energy is lost as
heat, but some
energy is stored
and can passed
on to another
consumer.
A consumer that eats a
consumer that already ate a
consumer:
•Is called a 3rd order or
tertiary consumer
•May be a carnivore or
a omnivore
•May be a predator
•May be a scavenger
Consumers that eat producers
& other consumers
Are called
omnivores
Omnivores
eat plants
and
animals
Consumers that hunt &
kill other consumers are
called predators.
The animals that are
hunted & killed are
called prey.
Consumers that eat
other dead consumers
are called scavengers
Food Chains Show Available Energy
More Food Chains
Another way
of showing the
transfer of
energy in an
ecosystem is
the
ENERGY
PYRAMID
Food Webs:
•Are
interconnected
food chains
• They show the
feeding
relationships in
an ecosystem
How Many Chains are in
this web?
Identify the Producers, Consumers, &
Decomposers:
Count the
Food
Chains!

Chapter 3 Energy Flow in An Ecosystem

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Chapter 3 Energy Flow in An Ecosystem

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Energy Flow

Rice Pugo (bird) Snake Hawk)

• The four major trophic levels are:

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll

Plants absorb water by its

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