Transfer of Energy :
Transfer of Energy When a zebra eats the grass, it does not obtain all of the energy the grass has (much of it is not eaten)
When a lion eats a zebra, it does not get all of the energy from the zebra (much of it is lost as heat)
Transfer of Energy :
Transfer of Energy The two (2) previous examples of energy transfer show that no organism EVER receives all of the energy from the organism they just ate
Only 10% of the energy from one organism is transferred to the next – this is called the 10% law
Food Chains :
Food Chains The energy flow from one organism to the other is know as a food chain
A food chain is simple and direct
It involves one organism at each trophic level
Primary Consumers – eat autotrophs (producers)
Secondary Consumers – eat the primary consumers
Tertiary Consumers – eat the secondary consumers
Decomposers – bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle the material back into the environment
Food Chain :
Food Chain
Slide 6:
Producers:
Primary Plants
Forms the Largest Group of Organisms Primary Consumers:
Feed Exclusively on Plants. Secondary Consumers: Eat other organisms from below. The size of the organism increases, but the number of decreases. Tertiary: have few enemies. This level usually contains very large animals.