The producer is the grass. The primary consumer is the rabbit. The secondary consumer is the fox. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients. Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in the food chain.

1. The flow of energy is
the most important factor
that controls what kind of
organisms live in an
ecosystem.

2. As sunlight pours down
on the earth, plants and
other photosynthetic
organisms capture its
radiant energy.

3. They use the sun’s energy
to transform inorganic
compounds into energy-rich
organic compounds during
photosynthesis.

4. These photosynthetic organisms
then use the energy stored in the
organic compound as food to fuel all
of their life processes. This energy
moves through the ecosystem as
one organism consumes another
food.

5. The flow of energy is one
way moving from the sun
through photosynthetic
organisms, then through
other organisms in the
ecosystem.

6. FOOD CHAIN
It models the flow of
energy through
organisms in a
community.

7. Food Chain
• Shows how each
living thing gets
food
• Always begins with
the producer
• Arrows show the
flow of energy from
one organism to
another

8. COMPONENT OF A FOOD CHAIN
1. Producer – an organism that makes it’s own
food
*Plants are producers
2. Consumers – an organism that has to eat to
get energy

9. Types of Consumers
Herbivore – an organism that only eats
plants

11. Herbivores
11

12. Carnivore - an organism that only
eats meat

13. Carnivores
13

14. Omnivore – an organism
that eats both meat and
plants

15. Omnivores
15

16. 3. Decomposers
• Break down dead
plants and animals
• Bacteria and fungi
are two examples
• Recycle nutrients
that are critically
important to all
members of the
food chain.

18. Example of a food chain
Plant
Caterpillar
eats the plant
Small Birds eat
Caterpillars
Owls eat Small
Birds
18

19. Food Web
• A collection of food chains
interconnected from the
same ecosystem
• Multiple consumers and
producers

20. Food Web

22. Why is “interaction”
very important to the
living organisms?

23. Why is “interaction” very important to
the living organisms.
Organisms interact in the
ecosystem to acquire
energy for their survival and
to meet their basic needs

24. Food Pyramid
When organisms eat, they take in
matter as well as energy into their bodies.
For example, when you eat chicken, the
flesh of the chicken containing nutrients and
energy enters your body. You use the
nutrients and energy to build muscles and
other parts of your body and to perform
various activities.

25. Energy Pyramid
• Shows the amounts
of energy available
at each trophic level
of an ecosystem
• The higher in the
pyramid, the less
energy available

26. The transfer of matter expressed
as biomass and energy in food from
one trophic level to another are not
one hundred percent used.
Only about 10% of biomass and
energy are transferred to the next
level.

29. The role of every organism in the food
chain and food web
Every organisms plays a vital role in
maintaining the balance of ecosystem.
Everything is connected with each other.
If one part of a food chain alters, the
whole food chain is affected.
For example, if a disease suddenly wiped
out caterpillars, it would affect owls, eagles
and many other animals.

30. How do Human Activities Affect
the Ecosystem?
Humans are the top consumers
in many food pyramids. To increase
food production, they use methods
that have an effect on food chains
and food webs.

31. Monoculture. This is the cultivation of
a single crop in large areas. Vast tracts
of land are converted to rice farms,
sugar farms, and coconut farms.
Herbicides and Insecticides. Farmers
spray their crops with insecticides to kill
insect pests, and with herbicides to kill
weeds.

32. Chemical Fertilizers. Monocrops usually
require large amounts of chemical
fertilizers. Continuous and uncontrolled
use of chemical fertilizers may increase
soil acidity, thus destroying soil
structure. Findings show that more
fertilizers are needed for the same
amount of yield after years of
monoculture.

33. Fertilizers may run off to
rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Accumulation of fertilizers
may cause the death of
these bodies of water.

35. ACTIVITY
1. What is the producer ?
2. What is the primary consumer?
3. What is the secondary consumer?
4. What is the function of decomposers?
5. How much energy is being transferred
from one trophic level to the next?