Unit 5, Lesson 4- Energy Flow in Ecosystem
- 1. Energy Flow in Ecosystem UNIT FIVE, LESSON 5.4 BY MARGIELENE D. JUDAN
- 2. LESSON OUTLINE Energy Flow Energy-Flow Pyramids and Food Pyramids Food Chain and Food Web Short Quiz (10 items)
- 3. All organisms require energy, for growth, maintenance, reproduction, locomotion, etc. Hence, for all organisms there must be: 1. A source of energy 2. A loss of usable energy
- 4. Life on earth depends largely on the flow of energy coming from the sun.
- 5. 34% solar radiant energy reaches the earth Much of the energy is immediately reflected by the atmosphere, clouds and the Earth’s surface that ONLY 1% REMAINS FOR THE ORGANISMS THAT LIVE ON EARTH.
- 6. Of this 1%, only 3% (0.03) or less is captured by the green plants and used in the process of photosynthesis to produce compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and proteins.
- 7. Consumers obtain energy by eating and then oxidizing (using) all organic materials Decomposers obtain energy by acting on organic waste materials/
- 8. ENERGY FLOW The passage of energy from one organism to another
- 9. Energy Flow Diagram Note that heat is always released, proving that not all energy are used..
- 11. Terminology of Trophic Levels Producers - capture energy, produce complex organic compounds Primary consumers-feed on producers (herbivores) Secondary consumers-feed on primary consumers (carnivores) Tertiary consumers-feed on secondary consumers (carnivores)
- 14. The SUN is present at all trophic levels. Note that only 10% of the original energy is left to feed the next level. This 10% is stored in the tissues of the organism in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The 90% is lost as heat.
- 15. kJ stands for kilojoule, a unit of energy 1000 kJ 100 kJ 10 kJ 1 kJ 10% loss of energy producers primary consumers secondary consumers tertiary consumers
- 17. An average human needs about 2000 calories per day. So if you want more energy next time, eat plants! Note: The more we go up a food chain/web/pyramid, the less energy becomes.
- 18. This is why we have so much plant life at the bottom of each food chain yet so few consumers at the top of each food chain. So the next time you take a car ride, you’ll know why there’s so many green plants and so few animals. It’s all about energy!
- 19. Food Chain and Food Web Together, these groups (consumers, producers, etc.) make up a food chain. Food chains in both land and aquatic ecosystems always begin with the producers and are eaten by one or several consumers, and finally end with the decomposers. (producers > consumers > decomposers)
- 21. Problems Too simplistic No detritivores Chains too long
- 22. Food Web More typically, food chains interact to form a food web. A food web is a combination of two or more food chains.
- 25. Several food chains also exist: Plant > rabbits > foxes Plant > squirrels > hawks and owls Plant > herbivorous insects > predaceous insects > toads > snakes And many more…
- 26. Short Quiz tomorrow about this lesson.