Energy Flow Through Ecosystems (Env Sys)

Radiation

transfer of heat by
electromagnetic waves;
does not need any
matter to help with the
transfer.

Convection

movement of heat by a
fluid such as water or air;
This movement of a mass
of heated water or air is
called a current.

Conduction

the transfer of energy from
one molecule to another by
direct contact; transfer
occurs when molecules hit
against each other

Multiple Choice

The heat from a lamp allows a lizard to remain warm. This is an example of which type of heat transfer?

• radiation

• conduction

• convection

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the process of convection?

• Convection is the primary way  heat travels  through rays.
• Convection is the primary way heat travels  through metals.
• Convection is the primary way heat travels  through appliances.
• Convection is the primary way heat travels  through liquids and gasses.

Heat always moves from hotter

objects to colder objects

Energy cannot be created or

destroyed; it can only be converted

from one form to another

Multiple Choice

In heat transfer, heat always flows from the _______________ substance to the _______________ substance.

• hotter to colder

• colder to hotter

• hotter to hotter

• colder to colder

Energy from the sun enters an ecosystem when plants
use light energy to make
sugar molecules.

•This happens through a
process called
photosynthesis.

• Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae,

and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen.

Multiple Select

Select all that are raw materials for Photosynthesis.

• Water

• Carbon Dioxide

• Oxygen

• Sunlight (Light Energy)

• Glucose (Sugar/food)

• An organism obtains energy

from the food it eats.

• This food must be broken down

within its body.

• The process of breaking down

carbohydrates to yield energy is called cellular respiration.

• Cellular respiration occurs

inside the cells of most
organisms.

Through cellular respiration, cells use glucose (sugar) and
oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Part of the energy obtained through cellular respiration is used
to carry out daily activities.
Excess energy is stored as fat or sugar.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true regarding cellular respiration?

• The reactants of cellular respiration are identical to the reactants of photosynthesis.

• The reactants of cellular respiration are obtained from the products of photosynthesis.

• The products of cellular respiration are the same as the products of photosynthesis

• Cellular respiration only occurs in autotrophs, photosynthesis occurs only in heterotrophs.

• A producer is an organism that can make

organic molecules (food) from inorganic molecules (such as the sun).

• Examples are plants.

Producers are also called autotrophs, or self-feeders.

• A consumer is an organism that obtains its

energy by eating other organisms or organic matter

Consumers are also called heterotrophs, or

other-feeders

Multiple Choice

Organisms that can capture energy from inorganic materials and convert it into forms living cells can use.

• autotrophs

• chemotrophs

• heterotroph

• consumer

Multiple Choice

Scientists classify clams as consumers. Which observation about clams provides the strongest evidence for this classification?

• Young clams are able to move from place to place.

• Clams gain energy and nutrients by filtering particles from the water.

• Clams use calcium compounds to make a hard shell.

• Clams live on the ocean floor, and sometimes survive without sunlight.

• Deep-ocean communities of worms, clams,

crabs, mussels, and barnacles exist in total
darkness on the ocean floor, where
photosynthesis cannot occur.

• The producers in this environment are

bacteria that use hydrogen sulfide present
in the water.

• Other underwater organisms eat the

bacteria or the organisms that eat the
bacteria.

Identify the
producers,
consumers,
herbivores,
omnivores,
carnivores,
and
decomposers
in this
ecosystem.

Multiple Choice

Bears eat fish, insects, plants, seeds, nuts and young elk. They are called __________.

• Franivore
• Carnivore
• Herbivore
• Omnivore

Each time an organism eats another organism, an energy transfer occurs.• This transfer of energy can be traced by studying food chains, food webs, and trophic levels.

• Each time energy is

transferred, some of the energy is lost as energy in the form of heat.

• Therefore, less energy is

available to organisms
at higher trophic levels.

• One way to visualize this

is with an energy
pyramid.

• Each layer of the pyramid

represents one trophic
level.

• Producers form the base

of the energy pyramid,
and therefore contain
the most energy.

• The pyramid becomes

smaller toward the top,
where less energy is
available.

Multiple Choice

Eat primary consumers (can be carnivores and omnivores)

• Tertiary Consumers
• Secondary Consumers
• Quaternary Consumers 
• Top Predators 

Multiple Choice

In an energy pyramid, energy_______ as you move up the pyramid.

• Increases
• Decreases
• Stays the same
• Changes up and down

Multiple Choice

The efficiency of energy transfer from a lower trophic level to the next highest level is roughly

• 1%
• 10%
• 100%
• 1000%

Multiple Choice

If there is 1000 Kcal available in the producers in trophic level 1, how much energy is available in the herbivores in trophic level 2?

• 10 Kcal
• 1 Kcal
• 100 Kcal
• 1000 Kcal

• Energy loss

affects the
number of
organisms at
each level.

• Energy loss limits

the number of
trophic levels in
an ecosystem.

Multiple Choice

A marine (ocean) food web is shown. A large decrease in the sea otter population would most likely cause the size of which of the following populations to increase the most?

• abalone

• sea star

• kelp

• barnacle

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would be the most likely effect, if there were a sudden increase in the cricket population?

• There would be a decrease in the small bird population.
• There would be a decrease in the grass/flowers population.
• There would be a decrease in the mice population.
• There would be an increase in the grass/flowers population.

• An invasive species is an organism that is

not indigenous, or native, to a particular
area. Invasive species can cause great
economic and environmental harm to the
new area.

• To be invasive, a species must adapt to

the new area easily. It must reproduce
quickly. It must harm property,
the economy, or the native plants and
animals of the region.

• Invasive species can out-compete native

species for food and other resources

Hammerhead flatworm

Invasive to Houston

Toxic to humans

Your group will select
one species of plants
or animals that have
invaded the Houston
area or the state of
Texas. You will
research information
about the species
and create a
WANTED poster.

Click on

SELECT AND

ENTER YOUR

INVASIVE SPECIES

to

enter your group’s
species selection and
all of your group
members NAMES.
ONCE SOMEONE
ELSE PICKS A SPECIES
YOU CANNOT TAKE
IT.