Energy Transfer and Succession 1.21.25

Learning Standard Targets I can identify different levels of consumers in an ecosystem. SEV1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem. I can understand and explain how energy moves through a food chain. b. Develop and use a model based on the Laws of Thermodynamics to predict energy transfers throughout an ecosystem (food chains, food webs, and trophic levels). Let’s see what you know… Carnivore Can produce their own food using photosynthesis Consumer Must eat other organisms to obtain energy Omnivore Organisms that eat only plants Producer Organisms that eat only other organisms (meat) Herbivore Organisms that eat both plants and animals Let’s see what you know… Carnivore Can produce their own food using photosynthesis Consumer Must eat other organisms to obtain energy Omnivore Organisms that eat only plants Producer Organisms that eat only other organisms (meat) Herbivore Organisms that eat both plants and animals Match the organism to its niche Decomposers - break down dead stuff and return the nutrients to the environment Consumer - must eat other organisms to get its energy Producer - makes its own energy using sunlight Detritivore - feeds on dead organisms, nature’s “clean up crew” A niche is the role (job) an organism plays in its environment Match the organism to its niche Decomposers - break down dead stuff and return the nutrients to the environment Consumer - must eat other organisms to get its energy Producer - makes its own energy using sunlight Detritivore - feeds on dead organisms, nature’s “clean up crew” A niche is the role (job) an organism plays in its environment Ecosystems Require Energy ● Ecosystems require energy from sunlight or chemicals ● Plants use sunlight and inorganic molecules to make energy ● Animals get energy by eating plants or other living things ● Decomposers break down dead organisms and other organic wastes and release inorganic molecules back to the environment What is the source of all energy on Earth? 👍 The Earth’s core 👎 The Sun ❌ Tides generated by the gravitational pull of the moon by the Earth What is the source of all energy on Earth? 👎 The Sun Remember photosynthesis? Draw an arrow to match the word to its example producer consumer decomposer Draw an arrow to match the word to its example producer consumer decomposer Draw an arrow to match the word to its example carnivore herbivore omnivore detritivore Draw an arrow to match the word to its example carnivore herbivore omnivore detritivore BRAIN BREAK Energy Transfer ● We can show this transfer of energy using food chains or food webs ● The sun’s energy flows into organisms that can change the sunlight into food then into organisms that eat them…can you give us an example? Since environmental science studies the relationships between organisms and their environment, we label these food chains with the organism’s niche as well as their name. What’s a niche again? What niches do you see here? Since environmental science studies the relationships between organisms and their environment, we label these food chains with the organism’s niche as well as their name. What’s a niche again? What niches do you see here? Role an organism plays in its environment… its job Producer consumer/ omnivore consumer/ herbivore Consumer / carnivore Where do all the dead things go? DECOMPOSERS DETRITIVORES They are eaten! They decay. YUMMM! STINNNNNNKY! Why is it important for nature to have a “clean up crew”? How do they fit in to the food chain? Like the sun, decomposers and detritivores may not always be shown – but they are necessary in every food chain.