ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.

1
NAME: __________________________________________________
Introduction to Energy Flow
The ultimate source of energy for all organisms, is the ________________.
-This happens through the chemical process called ______________________________.
-Photosynthesis is: The process in which organisms capture the ____________________
and convert it to ____________________________. The chemical energy can then be used as
____________________.
-What is needed for photosynthesis to happen?

-What all is made from photosynthesis?

-In Photosynthesis, _____________ molecules known as carbohydrates are___________

-Carbohydrates are ______________-rich molecules which organisms use to carry out
daily ______________.
-Plants, such as the sunflowers that we just saw, produce _____________________ in
their ___________________.
-When an animal ____________ a plant, some ______________ is transferred from the
plant to the animal.
Organisms are divided into different categories depending on how they get energy.
1. Autotrophs are __________________ or ____________________
-They get their energy ____________________________________. They absorb
sunlight (a.k.a. ______________________). They use the ___________________
to make ____________________________in the process ___________________.
-These _____________________________ store __________________________
and can be used as _______________ for other organisms.
-Examples:
2. Heterotrophs are _____________________ They _____________________________
themselves, so they must consume, or eat, to get _________________.
-The process by which they get energy from food is called __________________
__________________. Heterotrophs can eat autotrophs or other heterotrophs.
-Examples:
Chart for Distinguishing Producer and the Different kinds of Consumers:
Definition (Where do they get their

Examples

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________
energy)
Producer

Carnivore

Herbivore

Omnivore

Decomposer

Cellular Respiration Cellular respiration is the process of ___________________________________ to provide

________________.
It happens ________________________ of most living things, even living things that do
photosynthesis.
** Note! Do not confuse cellular respiration with ________________________ (which is just another
word for _________________________) **
Inputs & Outputs What we put in:
What we get out:

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________

To write it scientifically:

Compare the chemical equations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

1. What is familiar about the chemical equation for cellular respiration?

2.

What is new in this equation?

You need ________________ for all of lifes activities, and ________________________________

provides that energy.
Every time you walk, breathe, think, read, play, or do ANYTHING, you are using the
________________ you released from ________________________________!
Energy Transfer
Every time one organism ________________ another, energy has been ________________________.
We say that energy ________________ from one organism to another.
It is important to remember that energy is
________________________________________________________, only transferred or changed
forms.

The ______________________________ is the most important factor that controls

____________________ of organisms life in an ecosystem and ____________________ organisms that
ecosystem can support.
Food chains and food webs show the ______________________________ through an ecosystem.
______________________ are a ____________________ to show energy transfer in an ecosystem.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________

However, food chains are not the best representation of the flow of energy.
______________________ are a better way to show the flow of energy in an ecosystem, because
____________ __________________________________________________________________ between
animals are represented.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________

Food chains and food webs are organized into ____________________________. They describe the
________________________________________________________ in an ecosystem.
First Trophic Level
a.

______________________________________________. The __________ organisms

to ____________________________. They provide all the energy that heterotrophs
(or consumers) use. Ex:
________________________________________________________________________
_______

Second Trophic Level

a. ________________________________________. ______________________ (only eat

primary producers). Ex:
_______________________________________________________________.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________
Third Trophic Level

a. ________________________________________________. ______________________
(only eat other animals) and ______________________ (have the ability to eat other
animals and plants).
Ex:_____________________________________________________________________
Fourth Trophic Level

a. ________________________________________ a.k.a. top carnivores or top predators. Obtain energy by _________________________________. Usually not eaten
by anything else. Ex:
______________________________________________________________________.
Miscellaneous types of organisms (these are not usually included in the trophic levels because they occupy a special place in an ecosystem)

a. ________________________________________________. Get energy from

____________________________________________ that are produced at ALL
trophic levels. ________________________________________. Ex:
__________________________________
____________________________________________________________.
b.

Includes _______________________ (ex: ______________________________

_______________________). Decomposers cause _______________, which
____________________________________________________________ to be used by
_______________________________________.

At each trophic level, only about _____________________________________________ available is

passed on to the next level. _________ is not passed on. For this reason, ecosystems rarely have more
than ___________ ___________________________ (ending with
____________________________________ consumers). There would not be enough
__________________ to support more than __________________.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE // CLASS NOTES // 3.1

NAME: __________________________________________________