Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

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Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

• Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers

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Energy

• Everything you do requires energy
• Food supplies you with energy
• Most energy comes either directly or indirectly
  from the Sun
• Because we continually use energy, it must be
  continuously replaced

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PRODUCERS

• Organisms that capture energy (sunlight) and
  store it in food as chemical energy
• Plants are producers
• Plants produce food via photosynthesis
• In water, seaweeds, phytoplankton, and
  photosynthetic bacteria are producers

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Producers
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CONSUMERS

• Cannot produce their own food
• Must get their food from other sources
• PRIMARY CONSUMERS eat plants
• SECONDARY CONSUMERS eat primary consumers
• TERTIARY CONSUMERS eat secondary consumers
• SCAVENGERS feed on dead animals

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Producer and Primary Consumer
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Tertiary Consumer and Scavenger
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DECOMPOSERS

• Organisms that break down dead plant and animal
  matter into simpler compounds
• Often unseen because they are in the soil or
  because they are so small
• Earthworms, fungi, bacteria
• Return matter to soil and water so it may be used
  again

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