Energy in Ecosystems

• Green plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Arrows represent the flow of energy
• As you move along the food chain energy decreases
• most energy is lost from the food chain becuase its used for movement, heat, undigested material
• pyramid of numbers show how the relitive number of organsims change at each level of the food chain
• pyramid of numbers is formed as a pyramid becuase energy loss at each link limits the number of organisms that can be supported at the next level
• Sometimes pyramid of numbers can have an irregular shape
• Example of irregular pyramid of numbers : Large producer supporting many small primary consumers
• Example of irregular pyramid of numbers : Grass supporting rabbits and pests using rabbits as hosts
• A pyramid of energy can be used to show the flow of energy in a community