~Ecology Notes~
 1.
Sun
 2.
Autotrophs
 3.
Heterotrophs
 4.
Decomposers
ENERGY IS NOT
RECYCLED!!!!
 The
sun is the original source of energy for most
ecosystems.
 All
organisms in an ecosystem can be divided into
one of two groups based on how they get their
energy:
 Autotrophs
 Heterotrophs
Organisms
that make their own
food from light or chemical
energy.
Include:
 Plants
 Algae
 Some bacteria
 Organisms
that eat other organisms to get the
energy they need to survive.
 Include:
 Humans
 Fish
 Mushrooms
 Organisms
that eat only other
animals
 Ex: Lions and wolves
Organisms
that eat only plants
 Ex: Rabbits and cows
 Organisms
that eat plants and animals
 Ex: People and bears
 Organisms
that feed on small pieces of dead
plants and animals.
 Ex: worms and roly polies
 Organisms
that use digestive chemicals to break
down dead organisms
 Ex:
Fungus (mushrooms and mold), and some bacteria
 In
order for an ecosystem to survive,
there must be a perfect balance of
autotrophs, heterotrophs, and
decomposers.
 The
autotrophs make oxygen and food for the
heterotrophs.
 The
heterotrophs produce carbon dioxide for the
autotrophs and waste for the decomposers.
 The
decomposers break down the animal waste
and dead organisms and produces carbon dioxide
for the autotrophs.
A simple diagram to show one
possible path of energy
through an ecosystem.
A
complex diagram that shows all
possible paths of energy through an
ecosystem.
 Basically
shows how all the food chains in an
ecosystem connect to each other.
Trophic
Level = each step in a
food chain or food web
Each
trophic level depends on
the level below it for energy
 Only
10% of the energy is passed
from one trophic level to the
next.
Shows the relative amount of energy
being passed from one trophic level to
the next.
The
total amount of living tissue within a
trophic level
A
biomass pyramid represents the amount
of potential food available for each
trophic level
As
you move up a
food chain, there are
fewer organisms and
less biomass at each
level.
 Producers are always
on the bottom.