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Energy flow and nutrient cycles
Energy Flow
Plants are able to trap enough energy from the sun for their own needs
and for the needs of the animals.
This is possible because there are more plants than animals.
When herbivores feed on the plants this stored energy is transferred to
the animal’s body.
The animals uses some of the energy for their own activities like growth,
movement, respiration.
The rest of the energy is stored in the animals tissues.
Animals will use more energy than plants because they are more active.
Energy flow
The energy is transferred from animal to animal as the
animals feed on each other.
The energy is transferred from the herbivores and or
omnivores to the carnivores.
When the plants and animals die the energy still trapped in
their bodies are released by the decomposers.
The decomposers release the energy when they break down
the dead plant and animal matter.
This energy can be used by other plants and animal.
This flow of energy from one living organism to the next is
called energy flow.
Food chain:
A food chain shows the transfer of energy from one organism to the
next: grass worm spider frog
In reality a food chain never exists alone. This is because a
single organism may provide food to many different organisms.
Therefore in nature there is usually a number of interwoven food
chains: called a food web.
Something for you to do
A. grass-->cow-->human
B. caterpillar-->leaf-->human
C. cow-->grass-->human
D. leaf-->bird-->caterpillar
2. Rabbits eat grass and other plants to survive, but
they do not eat animals. What kind of animal are
rabbits?
A. decomposers
B. carnivores
C. producers
D. herbivores
3. How do decomposers help other organisms in
an ecosystem?
A. hawk-->grass-->rabbit
B. grass-->hawk-->rabbit
C. rabbit-->grass-->hawk
D. grass-->rabbit-->hawk
5. Which of the following lists only consumers?
1. A
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. A
Ecological pyramids
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the energy or
matter contained within each trophic level.
Ecological pyramids
From the diagram on the previous slide it is clear that
there are 3 different types of ecological pyramids.
1. Pyramid of energy
2. Pyramid of numbers
3. Pyramid of biomass.
Pyramid of energy
The organisms use some of the energy for their own activities.
Some energy is lost because the organism does not consume
the entire resource.
Some energy is lost as faeces and urine.
Pyramid of
numbers This pyramid shows
the number of
organisms in each
trophic level.
[25 marks]
Activity 3.3.3 pg 250 no 1 and 2 only
Solutions
Draw figure:
3.3.3 – page 253
Water cycle
Release
enters the
carbon
water and
dioxide
atmosphere
which
Draw figures:
3.3.5 – page 255
Nitrogen cycle
Activity 3.3.5
Page 256
Environmental concerns and nutrient
recycling
Effects of the enhanced greenhouse
effect pg 257.
TERMINOLOGY