1.

1 Energy Flow in Ecosystems

 Ecology

What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms
with the living and nonliving (biotic and abiotic) parts
of their environment.
1.1.1 Trace the flow of energy through living systems (food chain and food webs)

Hawk
Example for a food chain Tertiary consumer

Snake
Secondary consumer

Mouse i n ?
Primary consumer
d cha
fo o
i s
s th
s i
Plants l in k
any
Producers
w m
Ho
1.1.1 Trace the flow of energy through living systems (food chain and food webs)

Every organism in an ecosystem provides energy for

other organisms. FOOD CHAINS provide a step by
step sequence of who eats whom in an ecosystem.

Ex. Plants  Rabbits  Wolves (CARNIVORE)

When several food chains are connected a feeding

relationship a FOOD WEB is created.
1.1.1 Trace the flow of energy through living systems (food chain and food webs)

Food Chains and Food Webs

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

Energy flows through an ecosystem in a one-way stream, from primary

producers to various consumers.
1.1.1 Trace the flow of energy through living systems (food chain and food webs)

Food Chains
In some aquatic food chains, such as the example shown,
primary producers are a mixture of floating algae called
phytoplankton and attached algae. These producers are eaten
by small fishes, such as flagfish.
1.1.1 Trace the flow of energy through living systems (food chain and food webs)

When different food

chains interconnect they
form what is called a
food web.
Food Web
 Feeding levels

Energy is passed through the TROPHIC levels of an

ecosystem.

Third trophic level *SECONDARY Wolves, hawks,

CONSUMERS owls
Second trophic level *PRIMARY Mice, deer , rabbits
CONSUMERS
First trophic level PRODUCERS or Plants , algae,
AUTOTROPHS bacteria

Most food chains are three or four links

1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

Energy transfers in ecosystems can be graphed

1) PYRAMID OF ENERGY- represent energy flow

through the food chain or web. Measured in
kilojoules or calories/square meter/year

2) PYRAMID OF BIOMASS – the dry mass (water

removed) of all the organisms at each trophic

level. Measured in grams/square meter

3) PYRAMID OF NUMBERS –represent the number

of organisms at each trophic level of a food
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF ENERGY
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF ENERGY
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF BIOMASS
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF BIOMASS
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids
1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF NUMBERS
 1.1.2 Identify the three types of ecological pyramids

PYRAMID OF NUMBERS