Energy Flow
Energy flow is the way energy travels in an ecosystem.
The Sun is the main source of energy. Plants use sunlight to make glucose through photosynthesis, which is then used to produce energy. This is the foundation for all life on Earth.
Now, when a herbivore, like a deer, eats plants, the deer uses most of the energy to survive and grow, and only about 10% of this energy is stored in its body.
When carnivores like tigers hunt this deer, it stores only 10% of the energy obtained from the deer, using the rest for survival.
This means that only 1% of the energy from the plant is stored in the tiger.
This can be understood using an energy pyramid that displays how energy moves from producers to herbivores to carnivores and how it decreases at each level.
Because energy is lost at each step of the food chain, many plants are needed to feed herbivores like deer, which in turn provide enough energy for only a small number of carnivores, such as tigers.
Energy Flow
Energy flows through an ecosystem in a clear and organized path. It all starts with the Sun, which gives energy to producers like plants. These plants use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis. Herbivores, or primary consumers, eat the plants to get energy. Then, carnivores, known as secondary and tertiary consumers, eat other animals to gain energy. Finally, decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil. This helps new plants grow and keeps the cycle going. The interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things are revealed by understanding the flow of energy and how living things rely on each other for survival.
Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Developing and Using Models
Scientists use models to study how energy moves through an ecosystem. By developing and refining these models, they can study how energy is transferred between trophic levels and predict the effects of environmental changes. These models help researchers improve conservation efforts, manage wildlife populations, and assess ecosystem stability.
Activity Ideas:
- Energy Pyramid Construction – Create a diagram illustrating the different trophic levels in an ecosystem and how energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid.
- Energy Transfer Experiment – Use different-sized cups of water to represent energy at various levels of the food chain. Demonstrate how energy diminishes as it moves from producers to consumers.
Crosscutting Concept (CCC): Cause and Effect
Recognizing cause-and-effect relationships in energy flow helps scientists understand how changes in one part of the ecosystem affect the whole system. For example, if producers like plants die off, herbivores lose their energy source, and carnivores may struggle to find food. This can lead to a decline in many species. By studying these effects, scientists can better protect ecosystems and keep them in balance.
- Cause: A decrease in plant life due to deforestation.
Effect: Less energy is available for herbivores, leading to population declines in higher trophic levels. - Cause: The introduction of an invasive species.
Effect: The balance of energy flow is disrupted, affecting native species. - Cause: Climate change alters temperature and weather patterns.
Effect: Changes in energy availability impact food production and species survival.
Energy flow is the way energy travels in an ecosystem.
The Sun is the main source of energy. Plants use sunlight to make glucose through photosynthesis, which is then used to produce energy. This is the foundation for all life on Earth.
Now, when a herbivore, like a deer, eats plants, the deer uses most of the energy to survive and grow, and only about 10% of this energy is stored in its body.
When carnivores like tigers hunt this deer, it stores only 10% of the energy obtained from the deer, using the rest for survival.
This means that only 1% of the energy from the plant is stored in the tiger.
This can be understood using an energy pyramid that displays how energy moves from producers to herbivores to carnivores and how it decreases at each level.
Because energy is lost at each step of the food chain, many plants are needed to feed herbivores like deer, which in turn provide enough energy for only a small number of carnivores, such as tigers.
Energy flow is the way energy travels in an ecosystem.
The Sun is the main source of energy. Plants use sunlight to make glucose through photosynthesis, which is then used to produce energy. This is the foundation for all life on Earth.
Now, when a herbivore, like a deer, eats plants, the deer uses most of the energy to survive and grow, and only about 10% of this energy is stored in its body.
When carnivores like tigers hunt this deer, it stores only 10% of the energy obtained from the deer, using the rest for survival.
This means that only 1% of the energy from the plant is stored in the tiger.
This can be understood using an energy pyramid that displays how energy moves from producers to herbivores to carnivores and how it decreases at each level.
Because energy is lost at each step of the food chain, many plants are needed to feed herbivores like deer, which in turn provide enough energy for only a small number of carnivores, such as tigers.
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