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Energy flow (ecology)
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Energy flow is the flow of energy through living things within an ecosystem. All living organisms can be organized into producers and consumers, and those producers and consumers can further be organized into a food chain. Each of the levels within the food chain is a trophic level. In order to more efficiently show the quantity of organisms at each trophic level, these food chains are then organized into trophic pyramids. The arrows in the food chain show that the energy flow is unidirectional, with the head of an arrow indicating the direction of energy flow; energy is lost as heat at each step along the way.
A food pyramid and a corresponding food web, demonstrating some of the simpler patterns in a food web.
A food pyramid and a corresponding food web, demonstrating some of the simpler patterns in a food web.
A freshwater food web demonstrating the size differences between each trophic level. Primary producers tend to be small algal cells. Herbivores tend t
A freshwater food web demonstrating the size differences between each trophic level. Primary producers tend to be small algal cells. Herbivores tend to be small macro-invertebrates. Predators tend to be larger fish.
Trophic level
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The trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food web. A food chain is a succession of organisms that eat other organisms and may, in turn, be eaten themselves. The trophic level of an organism is the number of steps it is from the start of the chain. A food web starts at trophic level 1 with primary producers such as plants, can move to herbivores at level 2, carnivores at level 3 or higher, and typically finish with apex predators at level 4 or 5. The path along the chain can form either a one-way flow or a food "web". Ecological communities with higher biodiversity form more complex trophic paths.
First trophic level. The plants in this image, and the algae and phytoplankton in the lake, are primary producers. They take nutrients from the soil o
First trophic level. The plants in this image, and the algae and phytoplankton in the lake, are primary producers. They take nutrients from the soil or the water, and manufacture their own food by photosynthesis, using energy from the sun.
Second trophic level Rabbits eat plants at the first trophic level, so they are primary consumers.
Second trophic level Rabbits eat plants at the first trophic level, so they are primary consumers.
Third trophic level Foxes eat rabbits at the second trophic level, so they are secondary consumers.
Third trophic level Foxes eat rabbits at the second trophic level, so they are secondary consumers.
Fourth trophic level Golden eagles eat foxes at the third trophic level, so they are tertiary consumers.
Fourth trophic level Golden eagles eat foxes at the third trophic level, so they are tertiary consumers.