Plants obtain energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, which builds plant material. Animals obtain energy through respiration, where sugar molecules from food are broken down to release energy. Sunlight provides energy for most living things, with plants using it to make food and herbivores eating plants, while carnivores eat herbivores and are later broken down by bacteria and fungi, completing the energy connection between organisms.

1. How Do Plants and
Animals Obtain and
Use Energy?

2. Plants Obtain Their Energy
From The Sun
Plants use light energy from the sun as
part of the chemical process that builds
plant material. Do you know what this
process is called?
Photosynthesi
s

3. Animals Obtain Their Energy
Through Respiration
During respiration, sugar molecules (from
the food animals eat) are broken down to
release energy, both mechanical energy
and heat energy.

4. The Energy Connection

5. The Energy Connection
Sunlight is a source of energy for almost
all living things.
Plants use that light to make food for
themselves.

6. The Energy Connection
Herbivores then eat the plants.
Carnivores eat the herbivores.

7. Scavenger: animals that feed on the
bodies of dead animals.

8. The Energy Connection
Once the carnivore dies, bacteria and
fungi in the soil break it down.
The energy connection is complete!!

9. •Plants and animals get energy in different
ways.
•They need each other to survive.

10. Energy pyramid
A diagram shaped like a triangle that shows
the loss of energy at each level of the food
chain.

11. Types of interactions
Mutualism: a relationship in which both
organisms benefit.

12. Commensalism: a relationship in which one
organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

13. Parasitism: a relationship in which one
organism benefits while the other is harmed