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Ecosystems

The document outlines the energy flow in ecosystems, emphasizing that the Sun is the primary energy source, with energy transferring through trophic levels from producers to consumers and decomposers. It describes food chains and food webs, ecological relationships such as mutualism and predation, and ecological pyramids that illustrate energy loss and organism mass. Additionally, it discusses biogeochemical cycles and the human impact on ecosystems, highlighting both negative effects and positive conservation efforts.

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Gecris Marquez
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3 views3 pages

Ecosystems

The document outlines the energy flow in ecosystems, emphasizing that the Sun is the primary energy source, with energy transferring through trophic levels from producers to consumers and decomposers. It describes food chains and food webs, ecological relationships such as mutualism and predation, and ecological pyramids that illustrate energy loss and organism mass. Additionally, it discusses biogeochemical cycles and the human impact on ecosystems, highlighting both negative effects and positive conservation efforts.

Uploaded by

Gecris Marquez
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

IV.

ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEMS

A. Source of Energy

 The Sun is the main source of energy for most ecosystems.

B. Energy Transfer

Energy flows in one direction only:

Sun → Producers → Consumers → Decomposers

📉 Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; the rest is lost as heat.

C. TROPHIC LEVELS

A trophic level refers to the position an organism occupies in a food chain.

1. Producers – 1st trophic level

2. Primary consumers – 2nd trophic level

3. Secondary consumers – 3rd trophic level

4. Tertiary consumers – 4th trophic level

V. FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB

A. Food Chain

A linear sequence showing energy transfer.

📌 Example:
Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle

B. Food Web

A network of interconnected food chains showing multiple feeding relationships.

🧠 Food webs are more stable than food chains because organisms have alternative food
sources.

VI. ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS

1. Mutualism

Both organisms benefit.

📌 Example:

 Bees pollinating flowers

2. Commensalism

One organism benefits; the other is neither helped nor harmed.

📌 Example:

 Barnacles on whales

3. Parasitism

One organism benefits while the host is harmed.

📌 Example:

 Tapeworm in humans
4. Predation

One organism kills and eats another.

📌 Example:

 Lion hunting deer

5. Competition

Organisms compete for limited resources like food, water, or space.

📌 Can be:

 Intraspecific (same species)

 Interspecific (different species)

VII. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

Types of Ecological Pyramids:

1. Pyramid of Energy – shows energy loss at each level

2. Pyramid of Biomass – shows total mass of organisms

3. Pyramid of Numbers – shows number of organisms

📌 Energy pyramid is always upright.

VIII. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

1. Water Cycle

Evaporation → Condensation → Precipitation → Collection

2. Carbon Cycle

Carbon moves through:

 Atmosphere

 Plants

 Animals

 Fossil fuels

3. Nitrogen Cycle

Involves:

 Nitrogen fixation

 Nitrification

 Assimilation

 Denitrification

IX. HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS

Negative Effects

 Deforestation
 Pollution

 Climate change

 Habitat destruction

 Overpopulation

Positive Actions

 Conservation programs

 Protected areas

 Sustainable farming

 Renewable energy use

X. KEY TERMS (MUST MEMORIZE)

 Ecosystem

 Biodiversity

 Trophic level

 Autotroph / Heterotroph

 Decomposer

 Biotic / Abiotic

 Food web

 Energy pyramid

 Conservation

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