ENERGY FLOW

READINGS:
FREEMAN, 2005
Chapter 54
Pages 1247-1252
 ECOSYSTEMS,
THERMODYNAMICS AND
ENERGY FLOW
• The concept of energy flow in ecosystems is
a cornerstone of ecology.
• Energy flow in ecosystems is based on the
assumption that the laws of thermodynamics
apply to all observable nature and thus apply
to trophic levels.
 Two Laws of Matter and
Energy
1. Matter and energy can not be created
or destroyed. The law of conservation
of matter and energy.
2. When energy is changed from one
form to another some is always
degraded into heat. Energy transfer is
never 100% efficient.
 Two Laws of Matter and
Energy
The implication of these two laws of
matter and energy are that:
1. MATTER CAN BE RECYCLED.
2. ENERGY CAN NOT BE RECYCLED.
Thus, these two laws of nature govern the
recycling of matter and the flow of
energy.
A Model for the Cycling of Matter
and Flow of Energy
A Model of Energy (Transfer) from
One Trophic Level to Another
 A Model of Energy (Transfer) from
One Trophic Level to Another

Each successive transfer of energy results in less and

less available energy since each trophic level
converts some incoming energy to low grade heat
through respiration.
 Energy Budget for Producers

• Gross Production (Photosynthesis) = Net Primary

Production + Respiration.
• Net Primary Production = Growth and Reproduction +
Transfer to 1o Consumers (Herbivory) + Transfer to
Decomposers (Decomposition)
 Energy Budget for Producers

• Producers are able to capture solar energy

and convert to chemical bond energy.
• Much of that energy they used for cellular
respiration.
• Some of that energy is consumed by
herbivores.
• Some becomes part of dead tissue and is
passed on to decomposers.
• Some is stored as growth and reproduction.
An Energy Budget for
Producers

QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
 Energy Budget for Consumers

• Primary (1o) consumers obtain their energy from

producers. They use it in respiration, store it by growth
and reproduction, pass it on to higher level consumers
when they are eaten and along to decomposers when
they die.
• Secondary and higher level consumers do the same.
 How Is Energy Measured?
The quantity of energy
associated with organic
matter is measured in a
calorimeter. In this
instrument a measured
portion of biomass is
burned in pure oxygen and
the heat absorbed by water
is measured either in small
calories (cal), large calories
(kilocal) or food calories
(Cal).
How Much Energy Is Associated With A
Given Type of Biomass
• 1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 kcal
• 1 gram of protein = 4 kcal
• 1 gram of fat (lipid) = 9 kcal
• 1 gram of average plant biomass
= 2 kcal (wet weight)
= 4.5 kcal (dry weight)
• 1 gram of average animal biomass
= 2.5 kcal (wet weight)
= 5.5 kcal (dry weight)
 ENERGY (BIOMASS) AND
CONSUMPTION
• Consumption refers to the intake and use of
matter and energy by animal taxa in an
ecosystem.
• Consumption is measured in kilocalories or
grams of biomass.
• The energy budget for an animal population is
determined by the amount of food ingested,
egested and assimilated.
• Assimilated energy goes to respiration and for
growth and reproduction.
 The Arithmetic of Consumption

# INGESTED = # EGESTED + ASSIMILATED

# ASSIMILATED = # USED FOR RESPIRATION +
# STORED AS GROWTH & REPRODUCTION
Energy Flow Through Chipmunk
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Chipmunks are
important
consumers in both
the green and brown
food webs in this
forest.
• Important elements
of their diet are
beech and maple
seeds.
 Energy Flow Through Chipmunk
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Ecologists determined
that the chipmunks in
Hubbard Brook ingested 31 kcal
31 kcal of food energy 0.5 kcal
and egested 5.5 kcal.
How much did they
assimilate? 5.5 kcal ????
• If the chipmunks, stored
through growth and
reproduction 0.5 kcal, ????
how much energy was
released in respiration?
0.21 g/m2/year
 Energy Flow Through Chipmunk
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Ecologists determined
that the chipmunks in
Hubbard Brook ingested 31 kcal
31 kcal of food energy 0.5 kcal
and egested 5.5 kcal.
How much did they
assimilate? 5.5 kcal 25.5 kcal
• If the chipmunks, stored
through growth and
reproduction 0.5 kcal, ????
how much energy was
released in respiration?
0.21 g/m2/year
 Energy Flow Through Chipmunk
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Ecologists determined
that the chipmunks in
Hubbard Brook ingested 31 kcal
31 kcal of food energy 0.5 kcal
and egested 5.5 kcal.
How much did they
assimilate? 5.5 kcal 25.5 kcal
• If the chipmunks, stored
through growth and
reproduction 0.5 kcal, 25 kcal
how much energy was
released in respiration?
0.21 g/m2/year
Chipmunk Energy Budget
Expressed as %

QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Energy Flow Through Salamander
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Four species of
salamanders and
one species of newt
are found in
Hubbard Brook.
• Their biomass
equals that of the
chipmunk
population.
 Energy Flow Through Salamander
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Salamanders egested
0.2 kcal and assimilated
0.86 kcal. How much ?????
did they ingest? ????
• If the salamanders,
used 0.34 kcal in 0.2 kcal
respiration, how much 0.86 kcal
energy was stored
through growth and
reproduction? 0.34 kcal

0.20 g/m2/year
 Energy Flow Through Salamander
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Salamanders egested
0.2 kcal and assimilated
0.86 kcal. How much 1.06 kcal
did they ingest? ????
• If the salamanders,
used 0.34 kcal in 0.2 kcal
respiration, how much 0.86 kcal
energy was stored
through growth and
reproduction? 0.34 kcal

0.20 g/m2/year
 Energy Flow Through Salamander
Population at Hubbard Brook
• Salamanders egested
0.2 kcal and assimilated
0.86 kcal. How much 1.06 kcal
did they ingest? 0.52 kcal
• If the salamanders,
used 0.34 kcal in 0.2 kcal
respiration, how much 0.86 kcal
energy was stored
through growth and
reproduction? 0.34 kcal

0.20 g/m2/year
Why do chipmunks use more
energy than salamanders?
A Model of Energy (Transfer) from
One Trophic Level to Another
Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
 Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
• Gross Production (Photosynthesis) = Net
Primary Production + Respiration.
Net Production =10,400 - 5,720 = 4,680
• Net Primary Production = Growth and
Reproduction + Transfer to 1 Consumers
(Herbivory) + Transfer to Decomposers
(Decomposition)
Growth and Reproduction = 4,680 - 2,864 - 617
= 1,199
Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
 Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
# INGESTED = # EGESTED +
ASSIMILATED
ASSIMILATED = 617 + 22 - 504 = 135
# ASSIMILATED = # USED FOR
RESPIRATION + # STORED AS
GROWTH & REPRODUCTION
# USED FOR RESPIRATION = 135 - 0
Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem
 Energy Flow Through the Hubbard
Brook Ecosystem

1. Biomass of trees is increasing.

2. More energy (Net Production) flows through
the “brown” food web than through the
“green” food web. What is the clue in Fall?
 Energy Flow Through Human
Ecosystems
• For more than 1/2 million years, humans
obtained food energy as hunters and gathers
in natural ecosystems. This way of life was
maintained by the !Kung Bushman until
recently.
• Modern agriculture, which utilizes fossil fuels,
has been in existence for less than 100 years.
U.S. agriculture, one of the most productive in
all time, is a symbol of this way of life.
 Energy Flow In A !Kung Bushman
Managed Ecosystem
• The !Kung, until recently,
obtained food from
populations of plants and
animals in the Kalahari
Desert.
• Mongongo nuts1, small
quantities of plants20 (roots,
melons, gums, bulbs, dried
fruit) and game animals16-28
provided about 2355
kcal/person/day (more than
adult male requirement of
2250).
Number of species
Energy Flow In A Modern Agricultural
Ecosystem
• The average American
relies on domesticated
plants and animals to
meet his or her caloric
requirements.
• Cereal grains
(grasses5), lesser
quantities of other
plants20-40 and
domesticated livestock4
meet our caloric
requirements.
Energy in corn equivalents
 Who Has the Most
Sustainable Way of Meeting
Caloric Requirements?

• Sustainability is currently being defined in more precise

terms, but it includes ability to meet energy needs and
preserve environmental quality (avoid pollution, etc).
Energy Flow In An Industrialized
Country (Scotland)

Energy use measured in terra watt hours

Energy Flow and CO2 Emissions in
the United States (2000)
 Energy Future Beyond Carbon

• A special issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

(September, 2006) poses some energy
solutions for a sustainable world.
• It describes: “How to Power the Economy and
Still Fight Global Warming”.
• Provides a critical look at cleaning up coal,
nuclear option, hydrogen to fuel cars, biofuels
and renewables, and the dreams of fusion.
 Your Understanding of Energy Flow Has
Important Future Consequences. Check It Out
With Your Answer To This Question?
One winter 7 sailors are shipwrecked on a barren artic
island that has water but neither soil or vegetation. A
crate of corn flakes and a crate containing 7 hens are
also cast ashore with them. To survive as long as
possible the sailors should:
a. kill & eat the hens, then eat the cornflakes.
b. feed the corn flakes to the hens, then eat the
eggs.
c. eat the cornflakes & let the hens fend for
themselves.
ENERGY FLOW

READINGS:
FREEMAN, 2005
Chapter 54
Pages 1247-1252