This document summarizes key concepts around energy transfer in ecology. It explains that the sun is the primary source of energy, which plants (producers) capture through photosynthesis to produce food. Animals (consumers) must consume either plants or other animals for energy and are divided into carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Predators consume prey for food, while decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. Food chains illustrate a single path of energy transfer, while food webs show the complex connections between multiple organisms in an ecosystem.
2. Energy Flow Energy- Every living thing needs energy to survive; Where do they get it? The Sun
3. Producers Producers- Plants are called producers. This is because they produce their own food! They do this by using light energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce food - in the form of glucose/sugar. The process is called photosynthesis.
4. Consumers Consumers-Animals are called consumers. This is because they cannot make their own food, so they need to consume (eat) plants and/or animals.
5. Consumers 3 types: Carnivores- animals that eat other animals Herbivores- animals that eat plants Omnivores- animals that eat both plants and animals
8. Decomposers Decomposer- Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. They eat decaying matter - dead plants and animals and in the process they break them down and decompose them When that happens, they release nutrients and mineral back into the soil - which then will be used by plants.
9. Food Chain A food chain shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature. A simple food chain could start with grass, which is eaten by rabbits. Then the rabbits are eaten by foxes.
10. Food Web A food web shows all the connected chains and how energy flows through the community
11. Review What is this? Consumer, eating producer, watching out for predators, so it dose not become prey!
