Energy in Ecosystems
Eating food is for gaining nutrients that provide us with energy. Food webs and food chains are basically a transfer of energy from one organism to another.
Energy Transfer
In the food chain, energy travels from one level to the next. Plants gain energy from the sun, a rabbit may eat a plant and gain energy from that plant, the fox may eat the rabbit and gain energy from that rabbit.
However, as energy is passed on through the food chain, energy is lost by various means. The main ways energy is lost through the food chain are through heat, undigested foods and movement.
Knowing this, pyramids of energy can be created to describe the energy gained by various organisms in the food chain. Energy is measured in Joules (J).
A pyramid of numbers can also be created, showing the number of organisms benefiting at each stage of the food chain.
Key Points!
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Energy Transfer
In the food chain, energy travels from one level to the next. Plants gain energy from the sun, a rabbit may eat a plant and gain energy from that plant, the fox may eat the rabbit and gain energy from that rabbit.
However, as energy is passed on through the food chain, energy is lost by various means. The main ways energy is lost through the food chain are through heat, undigested foods and movement.