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Chapter 4:

Chapter 4:. Ecosystems. Autotrophs. Producers : Autotrophs that capture energy and use it to make organic molecules * Photosynthesis (converting light energy into organic compounds) * Chemosynthesis (converting chemical energy into organic compounds)

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Chapter 4:

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  1. Chapter 4: Ecosystems

  2. Autotrophs • Producers: Autotrophs that capture energy and use it to make organic molecules • *Photosynthesis(converting light energy into • organic compounds) • *Chemosynthesis(converting chemical energy • into organic compounds) • Without autotrophs, there would be no life on • this planet • Examples: Plants & algae

  3. Autotrophs

  4. Heterotrophs • Consumers: Heterotrophs that obtain energy by consuming organic molecules made by other organisms *Herbivores: Eat producers *Carnivores: Eat other consumers *Omnivores: Eat both producers and consumers • Examples: Rabbits, lions, humans

  5. Heterotrophs

  6. Heterotrophs • Detritivores/Scavengers: Feed on the • “garbage” of an ecosystem via oral ingestion • (i.e., vultures) • Decomposer: Organism that • breaks down organic material by the • release of enzymes (decomposition; • mushrooms)

  7. Heterotrophs

  8. Energy Transfer • When a zebra eats the grass, it does not obtain all of the energy the grass has (much of it is not eaten) • When a lion eats a zebra, it does not get all of the energy from the zebra (much of it is lost as heat)

  9. Energy Transfer • The two previous examples of energy transfer show that no organism EVER receives all of the energy from the organism they just ate • Only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next – this is called the 10% Law

  10. Energy Flow • TrophicLevel: Indicates an organism’s position in a sequence of energy transfers *1st trophic level = Producers *2nd trophic level = Herbivores *3rd+trophic level = Consumers -Higher trophic levels contain less energy, so they support fewer individuals

  11. Food Chains • Food Chain: Single pathway of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem that results in energy transfer • Simple and direct

  12. Food Web • Most organisms eat more than JUST one organism • Food Web: Interrelated food chains in an ecosystem • Food webs are more complex and involve many organisms • REMEMBER, on average, only 10% of the total energy consumed in one trophic level is incorporated into organisms in the next

  13. Food Web

  14. Biomass • The total mass of the organic matter at each trophic level is called biomass • Biomass is just another term for potential energy – energy that is to be eaten and used • Biomass decreases as you go up the trophic levels

  15. Biomass

  16. Ecological Pyramid • An ecological pyramid shows the relationship between consumers and producers at different trophic levels in an ecosystem • Shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained at each trophic level • The pyramid shows which level has the most energy and the highest number of organisms

  17. Ecological Pyramid

  18. Ecological Pyramid

  19. Ecological Pyramid: Practice • Which level has the most energy? • Which level has the most organisms? • Which level has the least organisms? • Which level has the least energy?

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