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Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

Food Chains, Food Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy Webs, Energy

PyramidsPyramids

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•Begins with the Begins with the SUNSUN•PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis•Chemical reaction where green Chemical reaction where green plants use plants use water & carbon dioxidewater & carbon dioxide to to store the store the sun’s energy in glucosesun’s energy in glucose•ENERGY is stored in glucoseENERGY is stored in glucose•Glucose is stored as starch in plantsGlucose is stored as starch in plants

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Organisms that Organisms that can make glucose can make glucose

during during photosynthesis photosynthesis

are calledare called PRODUCERS.

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Producers Producers use use most of the most of the energy they energy they

makemake for for themselves.themselves.

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Producers use Producers use cellular cellular

respirationrespiration to to supply the supply the

energy they need energy they need to live.to live.

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CELLULAR CELLULAR RESPIRATION RESPIRATION is is

the chemical the chemical reaction that reaction that releases the releases the

energy in energy in glucoseglucose..

6O2 + C6H12O6 -->  6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

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The The energy that is energy that is not used by not used by

producersproducers can be can be passed on to passed on to

organisms that organisms that cannot make their cannot make their

own energy.own energy.

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Organisms that Organisms that cannot make their cannot make their

own energy are own energy are called called CONSUMERS.CONSUMERS.

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Consumers that eat Consumers that eat producersproducers to get energy: to get energy:

•Are first order (1st) or primary consumers•Are herbivores (plant-eaters)

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MostMost of the of the energy the energy the

primary primary consumer gets consumer gets

from the from the producer is producer is used by the used by the consumer.consumer.

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SomeSome of the of the energy moves energy moves

into the into the atmosphere as atmosphere as

heat.heat.

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Some energy in Some energy in the primary the primary consumer is consumer is

STOREDSTORED && not lost not lost to the to the

atmosphere or atmosphere or used by the used by the

consumer itself.consumer itself.This energy is This energy is availableavailable for for

another consumer another consumer (predator).(predator).

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A Consumer that Eats A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Another Consumer for

Energy:Energy:•Is called a Is called a secondary or secondary or 2nd 2nd order consumerorder consumer•May be a May be a carnivorecarnivore or or an an omnivoreomnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

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MostMost of the of the energy the energy the secondary secondary

consumer gets consumer gets from the from the primary primary

consumer is consumer is used by the used by the secondary secondary consumer.consumer.

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SomeSome of the of the energy is lost as energy is lost as heatheat, but some , but some energy is stored energy is stored and can and can passed passed on to another on to another

consumer.consumer.

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A consumer that eats a A consumer that eats a consumer that already consumer that already

ate a consumer:ate a consumer:•Is called a Is called a 3rd order3rd order or or tertiary consumertertiary consumer•May be a May be a carnivore carnivore or or an omnivorean omnivore•May be a May be a predatorpredator•May be a May be a scavengerscavenger

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Consumers that eat Consumers that eat producers & other producers & other

consumersconsumersAre called Are called omnivoreomnivore

ssOmnivoreOmnivore

s eat s eat plants and plants and

animalsanimals

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Consumers that hunt & Consumers that hunt & kill other consumers kill other consumers

are called are called predators.predators.The animals that are The animals that are hunted & killed are hunted & killed are

called called prey.prey.

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Consumers that eat Consumers that eat other dead consumers other dead consumers

are called are called scavengersscavengers

The The transfer of energytransfer of energy from from the the sunsun to to producerproducer to to

primary consumer then to primary consumer then to higher order higher order consumersconsumers can can be shown in abe shown in a FOOD CHAIN. FOOD CHAIN.

Food Chains Show Available Food Chains Show Available EnergyEnergy

More Food ChainsMore Food Chains

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Another way of Another way of showing the showing the transfer of transfer of

energy in an energy in an ecosystem is ecosystem is

thetheENERGY ENERGY

PYRAMIDPYRAMID

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Energy Pyramids ShowEnergy Pyramids Show •Amount of available Amount of available energy energy decreasesdecreases for for higher consumershigher consumers•Amount of available Amount of available energy energy decreasesdecreases down down the food chainthe food chain•It takes a It takes a large large number of producersnumber of producers to to support a small number support a small number of primary consumersof primary consumers•It takes a It takes a large large number of primary number of primary consumersconsumers to support a to support a small number of small number of secondary consumerssecondary consumers

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Food Webs:Food Webs:

•Are Are interconnected interconnected food chainsfood chains•They show the They show the feeding feeding relationships in relationships in an ecosysteman ecosystem

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How Many Chains are in this web?

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Identify the Identify the Producers, Producers,

Consumers, & Consumers, &

Decomposers:Decomposers:

Count the Count the Food Food

Chains!Chains!

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The End?