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Ecology 101. Energy Transfer. The Sun. The sun is the source of energy needed for plants to produce their own food. Therefore, it is the source of energy for almost all living things. In this transfer of energy, living things are divided into two categories: autotrophs and heterotrophs .
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Ecology 101 Energy Transfer
The Sun The sun is the source of energy needed for plants to produce their own food. Therefore, it is the source of energy for almost all living things. In this transfer of energy, living things are divided into two categories: autotrophs and heterotrophs.
Autotrophs • organisms that can use the energy in sunlight to produce their own food (glucose) • autotrophs are also called Producers because they produce their own food • all food chains start with an autotroph • examples include plants, algae and some bacteria
Chemotrophs • autotrophs that get their energy from inorganic substances, such as salt, iron and sulfur • Ex. Bacteria and Deep Sea Worms
Heterotrophs • Organisms that do not make their own food • Another term for heterotroph is consumer because they consume other organisms in order to live • There are 5 types of heterotrophs: scavengers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and decomposers.
Scavengers • – feed on the tissue of dead organisms (both plants and animals); they are also known as detritivores • Ex. – Vultures, Crows, and Shrimp
Herbivores • – consumers that feed only on plant material • Ex: cows, elephants, rabbits
Carnivore • – consumers that feed only on meat • Ex: sharks, tigers, wolves
Omnivore • – consumers that eat both plant and animal material • Ex: bears, raccoons, humans
Decomposer • – organisms that consume wastes and dead organisms; they help recycle once-living matter by breaking it down into simple, energy-rich substances. • Ex: fungi and bacteria
Energy Transfer • In an ecosystem there is energy, and this is what allows the organisms to live. This energy mainly comes from one original source: the sun. Plants use this solar energy to produce carbohydrates which serves as fuel for living things. When one organism eats another, only some of this energy can be transferred because it has to be used by the organism that was eaten.
Conservation of Energy Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it just changes forms.
Food Chains • The energy flow from one trophic (feeding) level to the other is known as a food chain • A food chain is simple and direct. It involves one organism at each trophic level
Trophic Levels Producer – produce their own food
Trophic Levels Producer • Primary Consumer – eats producers
Food Chains Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer – eats primary consumers
Food Chains Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer – eats secondary consumers
Food Chains Tertiary Consumer Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Decomposer - bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle the material back into the environment
Food Chains Tertiary Consumer Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Decomposer
Food Webs Interconnected food chains in a community Identify the following: Producers plants Primary Consumers grasshopper, mouse, rabbit, squirrel Secondary Consumers fox, mouse, frog, snake Tertiary Consumers owl, fox Herbivores grasshopper, rabbit, squirrel Carnivores fox, owl, snake, frog Omnivore mouse What element is missing? decomposers
Ecological Pyramid 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