*Refer to Chapter 16 in your Textbook
Learning Goals:
1. I can differentiate between an autotroph and
heterotroph.
2. I can label organisms in a food web as primary
producers and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level consumers.
3. I can describe the energy flow through an
ecosystem.
Energy Table:
Type of Organism
Energy Source
Example
Autotroph/Producer
Photosynthesis
Phytoplankton
Autotroph/Producer
Chemosynthesis
Mussel in a
hydrothermal
vent
Heterotroph/Consu
mer
Cellular
Respiration
Great White
Shark
Autotrophs:
Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing their
own food, also known as producers
They can accomplish this two ways:
1. Photosynthesis:
Carbon dioxide + water + sunlight = oxygen + sugar
2. Chemosynthesis:
Carbon dioxide + water + hydrogen sulfide =
oxygen + sugar + sulfur
Photosynthesis
Chemosynthesis
Autotrophs:
The primary producers of the ocean are phytoplankton
“plant plankton” (92% of all producers in the ocean)
Heterotrophs:
Heterotrophs are organisms that must consume their
energy, also known as a consumer
All heterotrophs accomplish this one way:
1. Cellular Respiration:
Converts food and oxygen into energy
Oxygen + sugar = carbon dioxide + water +
energy (the opposite of photosynthesis)
Types of Consumers:
1. Herbivore: eats plants (ex. Manatee)
2. Carnivore: eats meat (ex. Great White Shark)
3. Omnivore: eats plants & meat (ex. Sea Turtle)
4. Decomposer: break down dead/decaying material and
release energy back into the ecosystem (ex. Marine
Bacteria)
5. Detritivore (or Scavenger): feed on broken down
dead/decaying material to consume energy for themselves
(ex. Sea Star)
Food Chains:
A food chain is a series of steps in which organisms transfer
energy by eating and being eaten.
*An example from the Everglades is shown.
Food Webs:
A food web is a network of feeding interactions
through a series of connected food chains
Ecological Pyramids:
Ecological Pyramids show the amount of energy
contained within each trophic level within a food
chain or web
• Primary producers will always make up the 1st level
• Various consumers will make up the next levels