3.4 energy in ecosystems

• energy loss


  when energy is being moved from one level to another there will be loss of energy, the ability to do work

  
• heat loss


  when energy is being transferred from one level to another some can be lost as heat through radiation from animals as we all respire
• movement

  when respiration occurs, chemical energy becomes kinetic energy and cannot be passed onto the next consumer

  
• undigested material


  bones, hair, hooves, etc. cannot be eaten and the energy is wasted, some can decompose and the decomposers can have some the energy

  
• 10% rule


  only 10% of the energy is passed onto the next level in the food chain

  
• pyramids of numbers


  shows the total number of organisms of a specific species at each trophic level in the food chain

  
• pyramids of energy


  shows the flow of energy from one trophic level to another