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Ecosystem Structure

Ecosystem Structure. Passing of Energy. All Energy starts from the sun Photosynthetic plants convert energy from the sun into food The energy moves through the ecosystem as one organism eats another. Autotrophs / Producers.

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Ecosystem Structure

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  1. Ecosystem Structure

  2. Passing of Energy • All Energy starts from the sun • Photosynthetic plants convert energy from the sun into food • The energy moves through the ecosystem as one organism eats another

  3. Autotrophs / Producers • An organism that converts the sun’s energy (or inorganic substances) into food

  4. Heterotrophs / Consumers • Organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms • Can eat plants or animals

  5. Food Chains • A model of the flow of energy through organisms in a community • Flow of energy is shown by arrows

  6. 90% HEAT 90% HEAT 90% HEAT Transferred Energy • At each step in the food chain only 10% energy is passed to the organism • 90% of the energy is lost in the form of HEAT

  7. Trophic Levels • Each step in the transfer of energy • Producers are 1st trophic level… they form the base of all food chains

  8. Primary Consumers / Herbivores • Feed directly on producers • Make up the 2nd trophic level

  9. Secondary & Tertiary Consumers / Carnivores • Eat only meat • Feed on primary & secondary consumers • Make up the 3rd and 4th trophic levels

  10. Omnivores • Eat both producers and consumers

  11. Scavengers • Consumer that feeds on the tissue of dead animals

  12. Decomposers (recyclers) • Feed on wastes and dead organic matter from all trophic levels

  13. Ecological Pyramid • Shows the relationship between producers & consumers in 3 ways: • Biomass • Energy • # of organisms

  14. Biomass • Total mass of all organisms in a food chain or ecological community

  15. Biomass Pyramid • There is less biomass as you move up trophic levels

  16. Energy Pyramid & 10% Law • Only 10% of energy is passed to next level • 1st trophic level is important in determining the rest of the levels

  17. # of organism pyramid • Population of each trophic level decreases as you move up the trophic levels

  18. Food Web • Shows the interconnected food chains in a community or ecosystem • A lot of food chains together

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