By – N.G.Palit

Energy Flow in Ecosystem

ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEM

Energy Flow in Ecosystem

Begins with Sun. Green plants use water, carbon dioxide and sun light to make glucose, through the process of ‘Photosynthesis’.

Movement of Energy The flow of energy is the most important factor that controls what kind of organisms live in an ecosystem and how many organisms the ecosystem can support

Primary Energy Source Most life on earth depends on photosynthetic organisms, which capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy in organic molecules. These organic molecules are

what we call as ‘ food.’

Photosynthesis

It is the chemical reaction by which green plants use water , carbon dioxide and l ightfrom Sun to make glucose.

Living Things All l iving things (organisms) need food (nourishment) to l ive. Living things in an ecosystem depend on each other for food.

Primary Energy Source * Most organisms in an ecosystem can be compared to chemical machines driven by the energy produced in photosynthesis. Organisms that make glucose during photosynthesis are called producers. and include plants, some kinds of bacteria etc.

Movement of energy through Ecosystem Producers use most of the energy they make for themselves. All other organisms in an ecosystem are consumers. Consumers eat plants or other organisms to obtain their energy.

Movement of Energy through an Ecosystem Energy moves from one tropic level to the next, from sunlight -to - producer- to -primary consumer and so on, down the food chain.

Food Chain The path of energy through the tropic levels of an ecosystem is called a Food Chain. Food chain starts with producers (plants, algae, bacteria) which use sunlight and convert it to food energy.

Food Chain The most obvious aspect of nature is that the energy must pass from one living organism to the other. A food chain starts with what gets eaten, like a fly is eaten by a bird. A food chain shows which animals eat other animals or plants.

Producers Producers use the energy of the sun to build energy-rich carbohydrates. Solar energy provides practically all energy for Ecosystem.

Producers Plants are called ‘Producers’, because they make their own food inside themselves. Producers use cellular respiration to supply the energy they need to live.

The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms that cannot make their own energy.

Energy transfer from Producer to Consumer

Energy f low in ecosystem

Consumers Consumers are those who do not make their own food, but get it from eating plants or other animals.

Primary Consumers The organisms that consume producers are called:- Primary Consumers They are also called Herbivores (plant eaters)

Primary Consumers Most of the energy which primary consumer gets is from the producers and is used by the consumer

Secondary or second order consumers At the third tropic level we have secondary consumers. Second order consumers are animals that eat other animals. These animals are called ‘carnivores’ ( animal eaters)

Herbivores Consumers that eat producers to get energy are the First order or Primary consumers. They are also called Herbivores. They survive on plants. Examples: cows, horses, mice etc

Secondary consumers Secondary consumers are those animals that eat other animals. These animals are called carnivores

Secondary Consumers Secondary consumer: may be a ‘carnivore’ or a ‘herbivore’ . May be a ‘predator’ May be a ‘scavenger’

Top Consumer Top consumers are not eaten by any other consumer. They are at the top of the food chain. They can be primary, secondary or tertiary consumers.

Tertiary Consumers Many ecosystems contain a fourth tropic level made up of carnivores that consume other carnivores called tertiary consumers. The hawk that eats a snake is a tertiary consumer unless a larger bird eats the hawk.

Omnivores Some animals such as bears eat both plants and other animals. They are both herbivores as well as carnivores. They are called as ‘Omnivores’. Examples: human being, bear etc.

Detrit ivores Detritivores are organisms that obtain energy from organic wastes and dead bodies produced at all the trophic

levels. They are the decomposers of the food chain.

Decomposers They break down remains of dead organisms. They play very important role in ecosystem. These decomposers include worms, bacteria, fungi and some insects.

Decomposers Decomposition of bodies and wastes releases nutrients back into environment to be recycled by other organisms. This helps release trapped energy (in the

form of carbon) in dead organisms back to the earth.

Scavengers Consumers that eat other consumers that have already died are called ‘Scavengers’ (they clean the environment)

Energy Pyramid Show I t takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers.

Energy Pyramid show Similarly, it takes a large number of Primary consumers to support a small number of Secondary consumers.

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