Lesson 3 Energy and nutrient movement in ecosystems - How does energy move through the ecosystem? How much energy goes from one level to the next? How do nutrients move through the ecosystem? Energy pyramid- What does it represent? What is each box or level called? What does each box or level represent? What are they and how are they defined? Trophic levels in food chains/food webs What is a trophic level? How much energy moves from one level to the next? What is the difference between food chains and food webs? Organism vs. Population vs. Community vs. Ecosystem Which is the smallest? Which is the largest? How are they related or interconn Producers, Consumers, Detritivores, Decomposers Define each and know how they are interconnected. Herbivores, Omnivores, Carnivores Define each.

energy and nutrient movement in an ecosystem

 

how does energy move in the ecosystem

Energy flows through an ecosystem in only one direction. Energy is passed from organisms at one trophic level or energy level to organisms in the next trophic level. Organisms need it for growth, locomotion, heating themselves, and reproduction

how much energy goes from one level to next

The amount of energy at each trophic level decreases as it moves through an ecosystem. As little as 10 percent of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level; the rest is lost largely through metabolic processes as heat

how do nutrients move through the ecosystem

Nutrients move through the ecosystem in biogeochemical cycles. A biogeochemical cycle is a circuit/pathway by which a chemical element moves through the biotic and the abiotic factors of an ecosystem. It is inclusive of the biotic factors, or living organisms, rocks, air, water, and chemicals

 

 

energy pyramids

 

what does it represent

An energy pyramid is a diagram that compares the energy used by producers, primary consumers, and other trophic levels. In other words, an energy pyramid shows how much energy is available at each trophic level. Energy is lost at each trophic level of a food chain.

 

what is each box or level called

Each box in the energy pyramid is called a trophic level

 

what does each box or level represent

it represents levels of feeding producers , consumers or number of individuals

what are they and how are they defined

A specialized type of carnivore belongs to the third level of the trophic system

 

tropic levels in food chains

 

what is tropic level

The trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food web

The trophic level of an organism is the number of steps it is from the start of the chain.

how much energy moves from one level to next

Only a fraction of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. The rule of thumb is 10%, but this is very approximate

what is the difference between food chains and food webs

A food chain follows one path of energy and materials between species whereas

A food web is more complex and is a whole system of connected food chains.

In a food web, organisms are placed into different trophic levels. Trophic levels include different categories of organisms such as producers, consumers, and decomposers

 

 

organism vs population

An organism describes an individual or  is a single, living thing and can be an animal, a plant, or a fungus. Organisms grow and respond to their environment while

A population is the term we use to describe multiple individuals or organisms of a single species that live within a particular geographic area

 

community vs ecosystem

An ecosystem describes all the living organisms (biotic components) with their physical surroundings (abiotic components) in a given area while

A community describes only the living organisms and their interactions with each other

 

 

which is the smallest, largest and how they are interconnected

smallest- producers

largest--decomposers

 

interconnection

producers are plants and algae that make their own food. so consumers feed on already made food by producers, decomposers then break down dead plant and animal material and wastes and release it again as energy and nutrients into the ecosystem for recycling.

 

 

define each and how they are interconnected

herbivores

A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material. include deer , koalas

omnivores

An omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. include pigs , squirrel

carnivores

A carnivore referred as meat eater is an animal whose food and energy requirements derive solely from animal tissue or meat. include lion

 

interconnection

they are all connected since depend on each other in the environment