Ecological Energetics

Ecological Energetics

1. FOOD CHAIN: the feeding relationships between organisms

   • Arrows represent direction of enerygy flow
   • Stage=Trophic level
   • GRAZING FOOD CHAIN- living plant
   • DETRITUS FOOD CHAIN- dead organic matter
   • most organisms rely on other sources and habitats
     • depending on time of year/age.size of population

2. Autotrophs; produce their own organic food (PRODUCERS)

   • Heterotrophs rely on ready made food (CONSUMERS)
   • FEEDING COMMUNITY:

3. consumers

   • PRIMARY- herbivores/eat producers
     • SECONDARY- carnivores/ eat primary consumers
       • TERTIARY- carnivores/top carnivores/eat other consumers
         • DETRITVORES- earthworms/woodlice/primary consumers/feed on detrtus (dead organic matter) + break into small fragments
           • DECOMPOSERS- fungi/bacteria/energy from dead decaying materialand complete decomposition

4. PYRAMIDS OF NUMBER,BIOMASS=ENERGY