Chapter 2.1 Notes

every organism in an ecosystem interacts with that ecosystem in two ways:

(1) the organism obtains food energy from the ecosystem (2) the organism contributes energy to the ecosystem.

A food pyramid (ecological model) is a model that shows the loss of energy from one trophic level to another different types = biomass, numbers, and energy

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Biomass refers to the total mass of living plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria in a given area.

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Consumers that eat both plants and animals are called omnivores.

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Herbivores are primary consumers that eat plants.

Carnivores are secondary consumers that eat primary consumers.

biodegradation The action of living organisms such as bacteria to break down dead organic matter

Decomposers change wastes and dead organisms into usable nutrients

An insect such as a bee that feeds on a plant such as a sunflower is called a consumer

Decomposition is the breaking down of organic wastes and dead organisms

fourth trophic level are tertiary consumers feed on secondary consumers to obtain energy.

Detrivores are consumers that obtain their energy and nutrients by eating the bodies of small dead animals, dead plant matter, and animal wastes

Scientists use models to show energy flows or is lost in an ecosystem :food chains, food webs, and food pyramids

Food chains are models that show the flow of energy from plant to animal and from animal to animal. Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level.

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Food webs are models of the feeding relationships within an ecosystem

energy flow The flow of energy from an ecosystem to an organism and from one organism to another

Plants are called producers because they "produce" food in the form of carbohydrates during photosynthesis.

first trophic level and are referred to as primary producers.

primary consumers eat primary producers. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers.