Download ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS Species-group of organisms that can

ENERGY IN ECOSYSTEMS
Population-all the organisms in an ecosystem
that belong to the same species
Community-all the populations in an
ecosystem
Producer-an organism that makes its own
food using light (plants)
Consumer-an organism that eats other
organisms for energy (animals)
Decomposer-an organism that feeds on the
remains or wastes of other organisms (fungi,
worms, bacteria)
Food Chain-path of food energy in an
ecosystem
Food Web-several overlapping food chains
Energy Pyramid-shows the flow of energy
through a food chain
As you move up, there are fewer organisms
and less energy
Niche-role that a species plays in an
ecosystem
Scavenger-an organism that feeds on dead or
decaying organisms (vulture, crab, hyena,
lobster)
The Carbon Cycle
The sun is important because it is the original source for almost all energy on
Earth.
In the diagram, the sun and carbon dioxide are used by plants.
Plants are either eaten by animals, burned, or eventually become a fossil fuel.
Animals release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Burning of plants or fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere.
So, carbon is recycled over and over again. The total amount of carbon around
Earth never changes!!!!!!!!!!!
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere,
some gets into soil.
Plants and animals would not exist without nitrogen,
it is a main ingredient of chlorophyll and our DNA.
Decomposers break down dead plants and animals,
this puts nitrogen into soil.
Bacteria in soil "fixes" nitrogen so plants can use it.
Animals eat plants to get nitrogen.