Interactions in an Ecosystem

• Ecosystem


  Consists of community of organisms interacting with one another and with the physical and chemical factors that make up their environment
• Feeding relationships


  As the feeding process takes place, energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another
• Categories of organisms


  • Producers
  • 1st order consumers
  • 2nd order consumers
• First law of thermodynamics

  Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one type to another
• Second law of thermodynamics

  Whenever energy is transformed, it dissipates, meaning it is lost within the system as heat
• Flow of energy in the food chain

  Energy is coming from the sun passing through living organisms and ultimately leaving the ecosystem as heat energy
• Pyramid of energy


  The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is transformed, it dissipates, meaning it is lost within the system as heat