Izzy Science Lesson 2 Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Which model best illustrates the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem a food chain or a food web?
A food web It is made up of interconnected food chains. It is more complex and much larger than a food chain since it shows the feeding relationships of many producers and consumers at each trophic level.
food chain
A series of events in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and by being eaten.
If you were to draw a five-level energy pyramid, where would you show the greatest amount of available energy?
At the first (lowest) level.
An organism that can make its own food is a
producer
A ? is a carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms
scavengers
role
specific role in a system
Which of the following most accurately describes the flow of energy and matter through a food chain?
Algae → small fish → shorebird → bobcat
Producer
An organism that can make its own food.
Consumer
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms
Which of the following best describes how the flow of matter through an ecosystem differs from the flow of energy?
Energy flows one way through ecosystems, and matter is recycled within ecosystems.
How does energy flow through ecosystems?
Energy flows through an ecosystem in a 1-way stream, from primary producers to various consumers.
Where does all energy in an ecosystem come from?
Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from the sun or inorganic compounds.
Types of Consumers
Herbivores: Only eats plants.Carnivores: Only eats animals.Omnivores: Eats both plants and animals.Detritivores: Feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter.Decomposers: Break down organic matter.
Consumer
Many organisms (animals, fungi, and many bacteria) can only acquire energy from other organisms. Also called heterotrophs.
10% Rule
Only 10% of the energy is available to go from one trophic level to another. The ore levels, the less energy that remains from the original.
Energy is said to flow in a "1-way stream" through an ecosystem. In your own words, describe what that means.
Producers receive chemicals from light rays, 1st-level consumers eat producers, 2nd-level consumers eat 1st-level consumers, and 3rd-level consumers eat 2nd-level consumers.
Each of the organisms in an ecosystem fills the energy role of :
Producers, consumers or decomposers
What is the trophic level of the robin in this food chain? Oak tree, Caterpillar, Robin, Fox
Second-level consumer
Energy Pyramid
Shows how much energy is transferred from each trophic level. Bottom Level: 100% 2nd Level: 10% 3rd Level: 1% 4th Level: 0.1% Top Level: 0.01%
What are the six major levels of organization, from smallest to largest, that ecologists commonly study?
Species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
Suppose a rancher wants to buy some grassland to raise cattle. What should she know about energy flow before she invests in the land or the cattle?
The energy flow starts with the sun, which gives energy to the grasses for photosynthesis. Moreover, the cattle, which are commonly known as cows, are herbivores that consume plants such as grasses and hay. On the other hand, the ranch must be protected from animals that prey on the cattle. These animals, such as wolves and lions, are meat-eaters or carnivores.
Where do you think the plants in the image get the energy they need to grow and survive?
The get energy from the elk because gives off energy when it eats.
Food web
The pattern of overlapping food chains in an ecosystem. the pattern of overlapping feeding relationships or food chains among the various organisms in an ecosystem.
Biomass Pyramid
The total amount of living tissue in a given trophic level. (Grams of organic matter per unit area)
In Massachusetts, a team of scientists studying great white sharks estimates that a population of 15,000 seals supports fewer than 100 sharks during the summer. Why are there so few top-level consumers in this systems?
There are only a few sharks in the marine ecosystem because they are higher up the food chain. When the energy is transferred from one trophic level into the next, only 10 percent is stored in their tissues, while the remaining energy is released as metabolic heat. In this case, if an organism is located higher up in the energy pyramid, then there is less energy is available for the consumer; hence, there are only a few top predators in an ecosystem.
Each step in a food chain or web.
Trophic Level
Which trophic level has the largest numbers? Why?
Usually there are more producers because they have the most original energy to reproduce.
A student says an organism that is both a first-level and second-level consumer is an omnivore. Is that student Correct?
Yes, it is correct. Omnivores are second-level consumers because they consume plants (producers) and the flesh of other organisms.
Decomposer
break down biotic wastes and dead organisms and return the raw materials to the ecosystem
Consumers that eat both plants and animals are known as
omnivores
Consumers that eat only animals are known as
carnivores
An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms is known as a
consumer
breaks down wastes and dead organisms and return the materials to the ecosystem
decomposers
trophic level
each step on a food chain or food web
Shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web.
energy pyramid
Producers are the source of all the ? in an ecosystem.
food
At what level of the pyramid is energy the most available
the producer
Consumers that eat only plants are known as
herbivores
What enters most ecosystems as energy
sunlight