Energy Flow Ecology K. Stacker SEV1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these phenomena to human society. b. Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem, recognizing that entropy is a primary factor in the loss of usable food energy during movement up the trophic levels. c. Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the trophic levels d. Relate the cycling of matter and the flow of energy to the Laws of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. Essential Question (s): 1). How does energy flow within an ecosystem?
Transcript
Energy FlowEcology
K. Stacker
SEV1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these phenomena to human society.b. Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a
generalized ecosystem, recognizing that entropy is a primary factor in the loss of usable food energy during movement up the trophic levels.
c. Relate food production and quality of nutrition to population growth and the trophic levels
d. Relate the cycling of matter and the flow of energy to the Laws of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process.
Essential Question (s): 1). How does energy flow within an ecosystem?
What to Do!
When ever you see this symbolBe prepared to write.
Copy Every Question & Answer
Where in an ecosystem does energy come from?
• Sunlight is the main source of energy for living things.• Energy flows through an ecosystem from the Sun to Organisms
within the ecosystem.What are two main types of feeders within an ecosystems?
– Autotrophs (a.k.a. producers) use the sun’s energy to make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
– Heterotrophs (a.k.a. consumers) must eat other living things to get their energy.
What are the classes of Heterotrophs?
Example ofEnergy Flow
In anEcosystem
SUN↓
GRASS↓
MICE↓
HAWK
Herbivores Eat plants deer
Carnivores Eat other animals lions
Omnivores Eat plants and animals Humans
Decomposers(detritivores)
Break down dead organisms
fungi/bacteria
Classes of Heterotrophs What is Eaten Example
What is the path of energy?• A food chain is a simple path of energy
from producer to consumer.• Each level (feeding step) is called a
trophic level [troph-to feed] • The ecological (energy) pyramid can be
used to illustrate the loss of usable energy as heat at each trophic level. Only about 10% is passed on from one level to the next.
• A food web shows many interconnected food chains and illustrates all the possible feeding relationships.
OMNIVORE3rd order
CARNIVORE2nd order
HERBIVORE1st order heterotroph
PRODUCERSAutotroph
Food Web
Nutrient Cycles & PollutionEcology
K. Stacker
SEV1. Students will investigate the flow of energy and cycling of matter within an ecosystem and relate these phenomena to human society.
a. Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Recognize that energy is not recycled in ecosystems.
Essential Question (s): 1). Why are nutrient cycles important?
2). Why is recycling necessary? 3). How do we contribute to pollution?
What to Do!
When ever you see this symbolBe prepared to write.
Copy Every Question & Answer
What materials are recycled in ecosystems and why?
• Organic substances such as carbon atoms, found in all living organisms, are constantly recycled.
• Inorganic substances like nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, and phosphorus which make up the soil, water, and air are also recycled to help maintain the health of ecosystems.
What are the Biochemical Cycles?
Water
Carbon Nitrogen
WATER 5 STEPS
CARBON 3 STEPS
NITROGEN 6 STEPS
…Water Cycle?Evaporation Transpiration(Water loss from lakes..) (water loss from plant leaves) ↓ ↓
Condensation (gas changes to a liquid, &
water vapor forms clouds) ↓
Precipitation (water returns to Earth
as sleet, rain, snow..) ↓
Surface Runoff (returns water to bodies of water or to groundwater)
1 2
3
4
5
A
D
C
B
E
…Oxygen Cycle?
…Carbon Cycle?Plant Leaves take CO2
from air↓
Plants store C in carbs and starches
(photosynthesis) ↓
Plants release O2.Humans & animals release CO2 back into the air (cellular respiration)
↓ Decomposers return C to
environment (Decomposition)
1
2
3
…Nitrogen Cycle?Nitrogen Fixation
↓Convert nitrogen gas into ammonia ↓Ammonia converted to nitrates ↓Plants absorb nitrates to make proteins ↓Consumers eat plants (with protein) ↓Decomposers break down dead
consumers (organisms) & return nitrogen to air (called ammonification)
↓Anaerobic bacteria in soil release
nitrogen from nitrates into air (called denitrification)
1
6
2
5
3
4
Pollution is a chemical or physical change in the air, water, or
soil of an ecosystem that can be harmful to the biotic elements
in an ecosystem.
What is Pollution?
3 Broad Categories
OfPollution
Air PollutionEx. Acid rain and
Smog
Water PollutionEx. Aldicarb (pesticideThat attacks nervous
System)
Soil PollutionEx. Mineral salts (kills
plant life)
What are the forms of Pollution?
SolidTrash
LiquidChemicals
GasCarbon
Monoxide
Forms of
Pollution
What is the Impact of Human Activity?
In your own words summarize the following statements to show how human activity affect the environment:• Earth’s natural resources are being depleted due to
large amounts of consumption.• Wildlife habitats are being destroyed due to the
clearing of vast areas of forests.• There is a shortage of fresh water due to agriculture,
industrial processes, and energy production.• Our air, water, & soil are constantly being polluted• All aspects are in direct relation to population growth
What causes Pollution?Pollutants
In your own words summarize the following statements about pollutants:
• Undesired impurities that accumulate in the environment (air, water, soil).
• Some are biodegradable, able to be decomposed by microorganism
• Some are non-biodegradable and linger in the environment (hazardous chem. wastes-poisonous, radioactive, explosive).
• Examples: pesticides, solid waste, sewage
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
In your own words summarize the following statements:• Extraction of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gases)
through mining resulting in environmental damage• Carbon dioxide is a by-product of burning fuel.• The build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere results in the
greenhouse effect, which traps radiation from the sun and heats the Earth
• Severe climate changes occur.
What is Acid Rain?In your own words summarize the following statements:• When Nitrogen and Sulfur oxides are
produced and emitted into the atmosphere through the use of fossil fuels.
• This results in photochemical smog (smoke, gas, and fog) and acid rain (sulfur oxides and water vapor)
• The aquatic ecosystems are affected by this change in pH levels
Behavior AdaptationsSocial BehaviorBehavior for protectionMigrationHibernation
Plants Animals
How Can We Help the Environment? Our Lifestyles Affect the Environment• Learn about the environment• Conserve energy by walking, riding a bike, or
taking public transportation• Recycle-Preserve our Resources• Create rich soil by making compost (leaves,
grass, fruit peelings)• More Suggestions!
CREATE YOUR OWN ECOSYSTEM•Design and create an ecosystem. Your finished product may be an illustration or a 2-D or 3-D model. Include the following details: •Examples of an organisms, populations, communities, biotic & abiotic factors, a food web to illustrating energy flow, one of the three biochemical cycles, and appropriate labels for all.
•Be prepared to present your diagram and discuss the niche of 3 of the organisms in your diagram.
20pts 15pts 10pts 5pts 0pts Total
Population of Organisms within a Community
Diagram/model illustrates an example of an organism, population, community, and labels for each
Diagram illustrates only three of the four criteria
Diagram illustrates only two of the four criteria
Diagram illustrates only one of the four criteria
Not Observed
Abiotic & Biotic Factors
Diagram/model illustrates examples of at least 2 labeled Abiotic and 1 labeled Biotic Factors
Diagram illustrates only three of the four criteria
Diagram illustrates only two of the four criteria
Diagram illustrates only one of the four criteria
Not Observed
Food Web Diagram/model illustrates a food web with five trophic levels(6 consumers & 2 producers), arrows, and feeding relationship labels (producer, herbivore-1st order consumer, carnivore-2nd order consumer, omnivore-3rd order consumer, decomposer-4th order consumer)
N/A Diagram illustrates only two of the three criteria
Diagram illustrates only one of the three criteria
Not Observed
Biochemical Cycle
Diagram/model illustrates one of the biochemical cycles, with appropriate description of how it works
N/A N/A Diagram illustrates only one of the two criteria
Not Observed
Accurate, Creative, Colorful, Neat
Diagram/model is accurate creative, colorful, and neat
Diagram illustrates only three of the four criteria
