3.3 Exploration 3 (Energy and Matter Distribution in Ecosystems)
pyramid of numbers
A diagram that shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem
What happens when trophic levels increase?
As trophic level increases, the amount of available energy is reduced because some is converted to heat or excreted as waste.
Food for thought
Producers convert only about 1 percent of the energy available from sunlight into useable energy.
Food for thought
The amount of energy and biomass decreases in a biomass pyramid as you move up the trophic levels.
Pyramid models
The same pattern of energy and biomass distribution at the organism level also occurs at the ecosystem level.
How to determine left over energy
To determine the amount of energy left for the caterpillar to use, subtract the amount converted to heat and excreted as waste from the total amount consumed: 1000 J - 500 J - 320 J = 180 J The caterpillar has 180 J left over to convert into biomass.
Energy Pyramids
Trophic efficiency is the percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next. Remember that energy transfer from one organism to another is not efficient.
Loss of available energy
When a consumer eats food, the energy it contains undergoes a transformation. Some energy is used for cellular respiration, which provides energy for movement and maintenance of the organism.
biomass pyramid definition
a diagram that compares the biomass of different trophic levels within an ecosystem
energy pyramid definition
diagram that compares energy used by producers, primary consumers, and other trophic levels
Where do ecosystems get their energy?
sunlight
Biomass
total dry mass of all organisms in a given area