The Energy Connection Notes

What is this?

• A food chain• A diagram that

shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature.

What is this called? • A food web

• A diagram that shows the feeding relationships among organisms

Food Chain -vs - Food Web

Let’s Compare!

Food Chain Food WebLinear BranchingShows relationship Shows relationshipbetween 2 organisms among many organisms

Both shows what organisms eat arrows show the direction energy is flowing (energy goes to the animal that is eating)

Primary source of energy =

James Prescott Joule

• Studied the nature of heat which led to the development of…

Laws of Thermodynamics

• The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.

• The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss of energy through the release of heat.

Energy is measure is units called

Joules

How do we represent the transfer of energy in an

ecosystem?

Food chain

Food Web

Energy Pyramid

What is an energy pyramid?F

low of E

nergy

1st trophic level

3rd trophic level

2nd trophic level

4th trophic level

producers

herbivores

carnivores

100 joules

10 joules

1 joule

.1 joule

Numbers Pyramid

10,000

980

92

8

Biomass Pyramid

200,000g

19200g

2100g

189g

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