Important
Questions
Give an example of a producer.
Give an example of a
consumer.
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
What do food chains
show?
What does a food chain
always begin with?
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
What does an energy
pyramid show?
Summary
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Energy Roles
 An organism’s energy role is determined by how it
obtains energy and how it interacts with other
organisms.
 Each of the organisms in an ecosystem fills the energy
role of producer, consumer, or decomposer.
Producers
 Energy enters most ecosystems as sunlight.
 Some organisms, such as plants, algae, and some
bacteria, capture the energy of sunlight and store it
as food energy. (Through photosynthesis)
 An organism that can make its own food is a
producer.
Energy is transferred to
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
What do food chains
show?
What does a food chain
always begin with?
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
What does an energy
pyramid show?
Summary
Consumers
 Some members of an ecosystem cannot
make their own food.
 An organism that obtains energy by
feeding on other organisms is a
consumer.
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains
energy by feeding on other
organisms (Wolf, Bird, People
etc.)
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
What do food chains
show?
What does a food chain
always begin with?
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
Consumers
 Consumers are classified (grouped) by what
they eat.
 Herbivores
 Carnivores
 Omnivores
 Scavengers
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms (Wolf,
Bird, People etc.)
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
What do food chains
show?
What does a food chain
always begin with?
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
Consumers - Herbivores
 Consumers that eat only plants are
herbivores.
 Examples: caterpillars and deer
Consumers - Carnivores
 Consumers that eat only animals are
carnivores.
 Examples: Lions and spiders
Consumers - Omnivores
 Consumers that eat both plants and animals
are omnivores.
 Crows, bears, and most humans are
omnivores.
Animal Diet Game
 http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/k
idscorner/games/animaldietgame.htm
Consumers - Scavengers
 Some carnivores are scavengers.
 A scavenger is a carnivore that feeds on the
bodies of dead organisms.
 Examples: catfish and vultures
http://www.fisheriesmanagement.co.uk/catfish/catfish_introduction.htm
Decomposers
 Decomposers break down wastes and dead
organisms and return the raw materials to the
ecosystem.
 You can think of decomposers as nature’s recyclers.
 Mushrooms and bacteria are common decomposers.
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms (Wolf,
Bird, People etc.)
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
What do food chains
show?
What does a food chain
always begin with?
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
What does an energy
pyramid show?
Summary
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
Mushrooms and bacteria
Food Chains and Food Webs
 Energy enters most ecosystems as sunlight and is
converted into food molecules by producers.
 This energy is transferred to each organism that eats a
producer, and then to other organisms that feed on
these consumers.
 The movement of energy through an ecosystem can be
shown in diagrams called food chains and food
webs.
Food Chains
 Every living thing needs energy in order to live. Every
time animals do something (run, jump) they use
energy to do so. Energy is necessary for living beings to
live and grow.
 Animals get energy from the food they eat, and all
living things get energy from food.
 Plants use sunlight, water and nutrients to get energy
(photosynthesis).
Food
Chains
 A food chain shows how each living thing gets food,
and how nutrients and energy are passed from
creature to creature.
 Food chains begin with plant-life, and end with
animal-life. Some animals eat plants, some animals eat
other animals.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/decomposers.htm
There is actually even more to this chain.
 After a hawk dies, fungi (like mushrooms) and other
decomposers break down the dead hawk, and turn the
remains of the hawk into nutrients, which are released
into the soil.
 The nutrients (plus sun and water) then cause the
grass to grow.
 It's a full circle of life and energy!!
 http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/k
idscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms (Wolf,
Bird, People etc.)
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
Give an example of a
decomposer.
Mushrooms and bacteria
What do food chains
show?
The show how each living thing gets
food, and how nutrients and energy
are passed from creature to creature.
What does a food chain
always begin with?
A producer
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
What does an energy
pyramid show?
Food Webs
 A food web
consists of
the many
overlapping
food chains
in an
ecosystem.
 http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecos
ystems/be_an_explorer/map/foodweb_play.htm
 http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_m
enu.html
 http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/foodweb.h
tm
 http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm
Important
Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms (Wolf,
Bird, People etc.)
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
Mushrooms and bacteria
What do food chains
show?
The show how each living thing gets food, and how
nutrients and energy are passed from creature to
creature.
What does a food chain
always begin with?
A producer
What’s the difference
between a food chain and
a food web?
A food chain shows only one path of
energy. A food web shows the many
paths energy can travel through an
ecosystem.
What does an energy
Energy Pyramids
 An energy pyramid
shows the amount of
energy that moves
from one feeding
level to another in a
food web.


Where is the most
energy available?
Why does less
energy become
available at each
level?
Important Questions
Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Give an example of a producer.
plants, algae, and some bacteria
Give an example of a
consumer.
Any organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms (Wolf, Bird,
People etc.)
Herbivores
Carnivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
What are the 4 kinds of
consumers?
Give an example of a
decomposer.
Mushrooms and bacteria
What do food chains show?
The show how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients
and energy are passed from creature to creature.
What does a food chain
always begin with?
A producer
What’s the difference
between a food chain and a
food web?
A food chain shows only one path of energy. A food web shows the
many paths energy can travel through an ecosystem.
What does an energy
pyramid show?
shows the amount of energy that moves
from one feeding level to another in a
food web.
Biology The Science of Life
Forward to food chains and food webs. (7:39-14)