1.9 - 1.10 Trophic Levels and the 10% Rule

Conservation of Matter and Energy

Matter and energy are never created or destroyed they only change forms

Example of conservation of matter and energy

Sun rays (light energy) hit leaves and are converted into glucose (chemical energy)

1st law of thermodynamics

Energy is never created or destroyed

Biogeochemical cycles demonstrate what?

Conservation of matter

Food webs demonstrate what?

Demonstrate conservation of energy

As you move up the food chain you…

lose energy

Trophic pyramid

Used to model how energy moves through an ecosystem

10% rule

Only about 10% of the energy from one level makes it to the next, the other 90% is used by the organism

Tertiary consumers

animals that eat secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores)

Secondary consumers

Animals that eat primary consumers or herbivores (carnivores or omnivores)

Primary consumers

Animals that eat plants (herbivores)

Producers

Convert the suns energy into chemical energy

Biomass in trophic levels

Only 10% of biomass can be grown or supported