Flow of Energy, Energy Flow

producer

Any plant that makes its own food

consumer

An organism that eats other organisms

photosynthesis

the process and chemical reaction by which plants make their own food.

food chain

a diagram that shows a series of relationships between plants and animals that traces the path of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem

food web

many food chains interconnected

energy pyramid

a diagram that shows the amount of energy being lost in ecosystem

carnivore

An animal that eats other animals/meat

omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals

herbivore

An animal that eats only plants

Primary Consumer (1st level consumer)

Eats producer/herbivore

Secondary consumer (2nd level consumer)

eats herbivore/carnivore

Types of Decomposers

worm or mushroom

decompose

the process by which dead plants and animals are broken down.

predator

Animal that kills and eats other animals

prey

Organism that is killed and eaten by a predator

decomposer

an organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms or animal wastes and consuming or absorbing the nutrients

trophic level

feeding positionin an ecosystem

carnivore

a consumer that eats primarily animals

herbivore

a consumer that eats primarily plants

10% rule

Only 10% of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level. The amount of energy passed up to the levels of the food pyramid reduces as you go up.

Sun

Original source of energy

Energy

the ability to do work

Types of producers

Kelp, algae, green plants, phytoplankton

Scavenger

consumers that eat leftover dead plants and animals left by predators