Energy in Ecosystems

1. Energy in Ecosystems

2. Food Chain What do food chains show? What do the arrows represent? A series of events in which one organism eats another and obtains energy. Food chains show the transfer of energy in an ecosystem The arrows represent the transfer of energy. Food Chains

3. What do food chains start with? What type of organism is after the sun? Describe photosynthesis. Almost all Food Chains start with the sun After the sun is an organism that can do photosynthesis. Like plants and phytoplankton. Sunlight + Carbon Dioxide + Water = Energy This process is called Photosynthesis

4. Sample food chains: Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird → mushroom Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture Sun → seeds → grasshopper→ mouse → hawk THE ARROWS SHOW THE DIRECTION THAT THE ENERGY MOVES.

8. Producers An organism that can make its own food . They use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to make energy, through a process called photosynthesis. Producers are the source of all food in an ecosystem. Without producers there is no food chain. Flowers Phytoplankton Tree

9. Decomposers Organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the environment. Two major groups of decomposers are: Bacteria Fungi.

10. Consumers 3 types of Consumers An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. Ex: Deer, Humans, Snakes, Bat, Cat, Hippopotamus, Cricket, Rabbit Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivores Food Chain Game

11. 3 types of consumers Carnivores Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Consumers that eat ONLY other consumers. ( Meat -Eaters) Ex: T-rex, Tigers, Lions, Ladybugs, Spiders.

12. Herbivores Herbivores are consumers that eat only producers. (plant eaters) Ex: Butterflies, deer, elephants, giraffes, mice.

13. Omnivores Consumers that eat BOTH consumers and producers. (both meat eaters and plant eaters) Ex. Humans, Bearded Dragons, Turtles, Bears.

14. Sample food chains with energy roles labeled: • Sun →milkweed → aphid →ladybug →bird →mushroom • producer 1st consumer 2nd consumer 3rd consumer Decomposer • herbivore Carnivore Omnivore • Sun → grass → zebra → lion → vulture • producer 1st consumer 2nd con. 3rd consumer • herbivore carnivore scavenger

15. Food Webs A Food Webs consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. It better represents the transfer of energy than a food chain. In nature animals eat more than just one type of food

18. Energy Pyramid An Energy Pyramid shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web. The most energy is at the producer level. At each level there is less available energy. Energy is lost as heat at each level