flow of energy through the biosphere. importance of solar energy l all organisms require energy for...
TRANSCRIPT
Flow of Energy Through The BIOSPHERE
Importance of Solar Energy
All Organisms require energy for metabolism
The original source of energy in the biosphere is the Sun
Producers
Organisms that are capable of trapping solar energy to produce food (carbohydrates)
Also called Autotrophs
Producers (cont.)
Along with producing their own food, producers are a source of food energy for all other living organisms
Consumers
Organisms that get food energy by feeding off of other organisms
Also called heterotrophs
Food Chains
As one organism feeds off of another the energy within the organism being fed on is transferred to the feeder, this is referred to as a FOOD CHAIN
Feeding Levels within a food chain
Producers 1st order consumers 2nd order consumers 3rd order consumers
Example of A Basic Food Chain
Food Webs
In an ecosystem there are many food chains
Usually the organisms found in one food chain are also a part of another food chain.
Several interconnected food chains are called Food Webs
Example of a Food Web
Energy Transfer
As energy is transferred from one organism to another in a food chain or web, a large fraction of the original energy is lost
Energy Transfer (Continued)
Only 10% of the original amount of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next
This energy loss can be represented by a Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid of Energy (Continued)
At each level of the pyramid the smaller space represents the lesser amount of energy
Pyramids of Numbers
Same as the pyramid of energy but represents the fact that there are fewer individuals at each successive feeding level
Pyramid of Biomass
Represent the fact that there is less total mass found in each successive level