26 Ecological Pyramids
This activity explores energy flow in ecosystems through an ecological pyramid model. It covers energy transfer, trophic levels, photosynthesis, and how only a small percentage of solar energy is captured by producers.
Mason Bennett
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♦All energy
systems will
decay Into
Ecological Pyramids fjl (
r
0 lt,opy
How docs energy flow through an ecosystem? entropy with
given time*
Why?
Every organism in an ecosystem is cither eating or being eaten. When cows cat grass, they obtain some ot
the energy that the grass transferred from the sunlight it absorbed. If cows could carry' out photosynthe-
sis, would they have access to more energy' than they get as herbivores? VChich organisms in an ecosystem
require the most energy to sustain life?
Model 1 - Pyramid of Energy
24 kcal
Values in ihe pyramid arc
per square meter per year.
T e r t i a r y c o t j s u r t i e i s
470 kcal Sect i idary coi.auines
Primary consumers
4,000 kcal
Primary producer s
25,500 kcal
1
Sunlight hilling Earths surface 1, 190,000 kcal 1
I. A unit used to measure energy is the kcal.
fl. What is the source of all energy in the pyramid in Model 1 ?
The source of all the energy of this pyramid is the stir i
b. How much energy does this source provide to a square meter of the Earth per year? (Be sure
your answer includes units.)
3.190,M 0 kcal
2. label the pyramid levels in Model I with the following: primary producers, primary' consumers,
secondary consumers, and tertiary' consumers.
3. The arrows in Model 1 represent the energy' available to the next level of the pyramid.
fl. What percentage of the source energy from Question I a is absorbed by the oak leaves in
Model I?
0.8%
b. By what process do the oak leaves harness this energy?
They get their energy through photosynthesis process
systems will
decay Into
Ecological Pyramids fjl (
r
0 lt,opy
How docs energy flow through an ecosystem? entropy with
given time*
Why?
Every organism in an ecosystem is cither eating or being eaten. When cows cat grass, they obtain some ot
the energy that the grass transferred from the sunlight it absorbed. If cows could carry' out photosynthe-
sis, would they have access to more energy' than they get as herbivores? VChich organisms in an ecosystem
require the most energy to sustain life?
Model 1 - Pyramid of Energy
24 kcal
Values in ihe pyramid arc
per square meter per year.
T e r t i a r y c o t j s u r t i e i s
470 kcal Sect i idary coi.auines
Primary consumers
4,000 kcal
Primary producer s
25,500 kcal
1
Sunlight hilling Earths surface 1, 190,000 kcal 1
I. A unit used to measure energy is the kcal.
fl. What is the source of all energy in the pyramid in Model 1 ?
The source of all the energy of this pyramid is the stir i
b. How much energy does this source provide to a square meter of the Earth per year? (Be sure
your answer includes units.)
3.190,M 0 kcal
2. label the pyramid levels in Model I with the following: primary producers, primary' consumers,
secondary consumers, and tertiary' consumers.
3. The arrows in Model 1 represent the energy' available to the next level of the pyramid.
fl. What percentage of the source energy from Question I a is absorbed by the oak leaves in
Model I?
0.8%
b. By what process do the oak leaves harness this energy?
They get their energy through photosynthesis process
4. Describe how the consumers in one level of the pyramid obtain energy from rhe organisms at the
previous level of the pyramid.
The consumers above a level get their energy by consuming the organism from the level below them
5. Refer to Model I .
a. How much energy per year do the caterpillars in Model I obtain from eating the leaves in a
square meter of the oak tree?
They get 4,000 kcal
b What percentage of the energy that was originally absorbed by the oak leaves is passed on to
the caterpillars?
15.7%
c. What percentage of the energy absorbed by the oak leaves is not passed on to the caterpillars?
64.3%
With your group, list at least three possible uses and/or products of the energy absorbed by
the oak leaves that did not contribute to the production of biomass.
The energy absorbed by the sun that does not cont'ibuteto the production of biomass could be heat,
growth, movement
6. Calculate the percentage of energy that is transferred from one level of rhe pyramid in Mode] I
to another for all of the levels.
u. Oak leaves to caterpillars (see Question 5Z>).
15%
b. Caterpillars to bluejays.
c. Blue jays to hawk.
5%
7. Calculate the average percentage of energy that is transferred from one level to another using
your answers in Question 6. Note that this average percentage transfer is similar for many differ-
ent types of energy pyramids in nature.
10.6%
8. As a group, write a statement that describes the pattern of energv transfer among consumers
within a pyramid of energy.
As you go io the level abo ve the energy within the system decreases as you go up.
previous level of the pyramid.
The consumers above a level get their energy by consuming the organism from the level below them
5. Refer to Model I .
a. How much energy per year do the caterpillars in Model I obtain from eating the leaves in a
square meter of the oak tree?
They get 4,000 kcal
b What percentage of the energy that was originally absorbed by the oak leaves is passed on to
the caterpillars?
15.7%
c. What percentage of the energy absorbed by the oak leaves is not passed on to the caterpillars?
64.3%
With your group, list at least three possible uses and/or products of the energy absorbed by
the oak leaves that did not contribute to the production of biomass.
The energy absorbed by the sun that does not cont'ibuteto the production of biomass could be heat,
growth, movement
6. Calculate the percentage of energy that is transferred from one level of rhe pyramid in Mode] I
to another for all of the levels.
u. Oak leaves to caterpillars (see Question 5Z>).
15%
b. Caterpillars to bluejays.
c. Blue jays to hawk.
5%
7. Calculate the average percentage of energy that is transferred from one level to another using
your answers in Question 6. Note that this average percentage transfer is similar for many differ-
ent types of energy pyramids in nature.
10.6%
8. As a group, write a statement that describes the pattern of energv transfer among consumers
within a pyramid of energy.
As you go io the level abo ve the energy within the system decreases as you go up.
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