University:
Texas A&M University
Course:
BIOL 357 | Ecology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

339

Pages:

1
Author:

Arielle Armstrong

Consumers Decomposers Consumers, or heterotrophs, gain energy by eating other organisms. Consumers that only eat producers (plants or their producs) are herbivores, and consumers that only eat other animals are called carnivores. Organisms that eat both plants and animals are omnivores. Decomposers (detritivores) consume waste and dead organisms and help recycle biomass, the energy stored in these materials, by breaking it down into carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. What is it? Primary Consumers Food chains model the transfer of energy from one organism to another in the form of food. Primary consumers only eat producers (plant and plant products.) Types of Biotic Organisms Secondary Consumers Food Chain Producers Producers are called “autotrophs” because they make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. In it, chlorophyll-containing organisms use CO2 and water to turn sun energy into glucose and O2. What is it? Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. Some secondary consumers, known as omnivores, also eat plants. Organization Energy flows from the Producer  Primary Consumer  Secondary Consumer  Decomposer. Energy Flow in Ecosystems What is it? Food webs show many overlapping food chains, modeling the flow of energy throughout an entire ecosystem. Energy Pyramids help us compare how much energy is available to consume at each level of the food chain. Why use it? The limited levels in food chains do not show many interactions among organisms in an ecosystem. Organisms may be part of many food chains and on multiple levels. Energy Pyramid Food Web Food Web Balance A balanced food web has an abundance of producers, many herbivores, and fewer carnivores and omnivores. This helps the ecosystem maintain and recycle biomass. Decomposers in Food Webs Many food webs do not include decomposers, but they are vital to balancing energy flow in an ecosystem. All organisms should have arrows pointed to decomposers. Energy Loss Only around 10% of energy organisms consume is stored. The other 90% is used for life processes or lost as heat. Energy Levels Size of the Pyramid There are normally no more than 4 levels in an energy pyramid because the limited amounts of energy available at higher levels often cannot sustain organisms. The higher the level an organism is in the energy pyramid, the less energy is available to them. That is why there are fewer top level predators (also called apex predators.)

Energy Flow in Ecosystems Mapping

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