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THERE IS A LIMIT IN THE NUMBER OF TROPHIC LEVELS & THE LENGTH OF A FOOD CHAIN

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1. Nutrition (obtaining food for energy and the materials needed for growth)

2. Metabolism (a chemical reaction that takes place inside the cells)

3. Growth (irreversible increase in size)

4. Response (perceiving and reacting to a change in the environment)

5. Excretion (getting rid of waste products)

6. Homeostasis (maintaining a controlled environment)

7. Reproduction ( producing offspring either sexually or asexually)

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Organic compounds (Sugars -> Glucose) (C₆H₁₂O₆) + O₂ -------->
CO₂ + H₂O + ATP

ATP --> used for the 7 functions of life, Energy in the form of ATP, ATP can be used readily by cells & organisms

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Only 10% of the energy contained within a trophic level is transferred onto the next level. 90% is "lost".
Why?
1. Organisms may die before they can be consumed.
2. Organisms use a lot of their energy for their own needs (for cell respiration) (for all 7 functions of life)
3. Not all parts of an organism are consumed by the other organism that feeds on the other.
4. Not all parts are digested.

These 4 reasons contribute to the 90% loss of energy from one tropic level to the next

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Food Chains are a series of organisms which each depend on the next as a source of food. They show how each organism gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed on from creature to creature.

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1° Consumers --> feed directly on Autotrophs (Herbivores)

2° Consumers --> feed on 1° consumers (Carnivores/Omnivores)

3° Consumers --> feed on 2° consumers (Carnivores/Omnivores)

etc...

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An Energy Pyramid is a model that shows the flow of energy in a trophic, or feeding level to the net in an ecosystem. The different trophic levels represent the different groups of organisms that can compose a food chain. Starting from the bottom, going up-wards they are as follows:

Producers — bring energy from nonliving sources into the community

Primary consumers — eat the producers, which makes them herbivores in most communities

Secondary consumers — eat the primary consumers, which makes them carnivores but they can also be an omnivore

Tertiary consumers — eat the secondary consumers which makes them both carnivores and herbivores or omnivores.

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Herbivore --> feeds only on plants

Carnivore --> feed only on meat (flesh)

Omnivore --> feeds on both plants & meat

Decomposers --> organisms that feed on dead organic matter & decompose it

Detrivores --> feed on dead organic matter & digest it internally (they have a gut)

The large of dung beatles

Saprotrophs --> feed on dead organic matter & digest it externally (they don't have a gut), they digest by releasing digestive enzymes onto the dead organic matter & then absorbing the products of the digestion

Bacteria and fungi

Autotrophs --> producers (organisms that are able to produce their own foods)

Heterotrophs --> consumers, organisms that feed on other organisms (living organisms or recently killed organisms)