Energy Flow in the Ecosystem
An ecosystem is made up of all the living things and their physical
environment, interacting through a one-way energy flow and a cycling of
raw materials (chemicals). In an ecosystem, energy input is in the form of
sunlight. Producers such as plants capture a fraction of the energy from
the sun. Most of the energy captured by producers escapes to the
environment, mainly in the form of heat.
Energy Flows in one direction, which starts with the autotrophs that capture energy
from the sun
This energy loss occurs because the organism is continually breaking chemical bonds
in the food to harness its stored energy. Only a small amount of energy can actually be
consumed by cells. As a result, each succeeding step in the food chain has less of the
original solar energy available to it. Therefore, the transfer of energy is not 100%
efficient. The energy in the body tissues of the organism is passed on to the next consumer
in the chain.
The hierarchy of feeding relationships is called trophic levels. These levels describe
the positions of organisms in the food chain. A food chain demonstrates the arrangement
of energy transfer from one energy level to the next energy level. On the other hand, a food
web is a diagram that illustrates the complex feeding relationships among producers,
consumers, and decomposers. It also shows many interconnected food chains that exist
in the ecosystem. An example of a food web is a farm ecosystem.
Examples of Food Chains
Let's focus on the food web in a farm ecosystem. The farm grasses,
producers that tap the energy from the sun, are at the first trophic level.
Grasses are eaten by herbivores (e.g., mouse) which are at the second trophic
level. The mouse, a primary consumer, is eaten by the snake, making itself
a secondary consumer at the third trophic level. Finally, the eagle eats the
snake, making itself a tertiary consumer, and the top predator (fourth
trophic level of the food web). Due to a variety of food choices of organisms,
the ecosystem remains stable even if one population shows a significant
decline in number. The organisms that feed on the declining population will
be relying on other food choices until the declining population recovers.
Example of a Food Web
Difference of a food chain and a food web
The Energy Pyramid
Energy is required to
perform essential life
processes such as growth,
respiration, and reproduction.
It is transferred when one
organism consumes another
organism. However, as energy
is transferred, much of it is lost
to the environment. You have
learned that the transfer of
energy cannot be 100%
efficient. Energy transfer
between trophic levels is
typically only 10% efficient.
Example of an Energy Pyramid
Remember that some of the energy escapes the organism's body in the
form of heat. The energy pyramid shown in figure earlier is a diagram that
illustrates the transfer of energy through a food chain or web. Each block
represents the amount of energy that was obtained from the organism(s) below
it. Only this amount of energy is available to the organism in the next higher
block. Therefore, the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the
next level decreases. As the energy decreases, organisms become fewer in
number at each trophic level.
Activity: Energy Pyramid!
DUE DATE: MAY 2, 2024
Instruction/Procedure: Create two energy pyramids – one in an aquatic ecosystem
and another in a terrestrial ecosystem. Illustrate it in a bond paper. Make your work
appealing to the eye. (20 points)
