EduVista Classes – Priyanka Ma’am

Chapter 7. Energy flow in an Ecosystem

Sub: Science (9 Std)

Energy flow in an ecosystem We have already learnt the classification of living organisms
according to the mode of nutrition into producers, consumers, saprotrophs (saprophytes)
and decomposers.
❖ Primary consumers (herbivores):
Ex. Grasshopper, squirrel, elephant, etc. They are directly dependent on autotrophs
(producers).
❖ Secondary consumers (carnivores):
Ex. Frog, owl, fox, etc. These consumers use herbivores as their food.
❖ Apex or top consumers (carnivores):
Ex. Tiger, lion, etc. These consumers use herbivores and carnivores as their food. No
other animals feed on top consumers.
❖ Omnivores (mixed consumers):
Ex. Humans, bear, etc. Feed on herbivores, carnivores and producers.

Food web
• Interactions go on continuously between producers, consumers and saprophytes.
• There is a definite sequence in these interactions which is called the food chain.
• Each chain consists of four, five or more links.
• An ecosystem consists of many food chains that are interconnected at various levels.
• Thus, a food web is formed.
• For example, an insect feeds upon leaves of various plants but the same insect is the
prey for different animals like frog, wall lizard, birds, etc.
• Such an intricate network is called a ‘Food Web’.
• Generally, food webs are found everywhere in nature.
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Energy pyramid
• The energy pyramid Trophic level Each level in the food chain is called a trophic level.

• A trophic level is the step at which the organism obtains its food in the chain.

• The amount of matter and energy gradually decreases from producers at lowest
level to top consumers at the highest level

Energy pyramid
• Figure 7.4 shows the energy transfer that takes place at each trophic level.
• There are different levels of energy exchange in the food chain.
• The initial quantity of energy goes on decreasing at every level of energy exchange.
• Similarly, the number of organisms also decreases from the lowest level to the highest level.
• This pattern of energy exchange in an ecosystem is called a ‘Pyramid of energy’.
• After the death of apex consumers, their energy becomes available to the decomposers.
• Fungi and other micro- -organisms decompose the bodies of dead animals.
• They are called decomposers.
• In the process of obtaining food from the remains of organisms, decomposers convert them
into simple carbon compounds. These substances easily mix with air, water and soil from
where they are again absorbed by plants and incorporated into the food chain.
• 7.4 Pyramid of energy in an aquatic ecosystem You can now see that due to the food web
formed by the various modes of nutrition, energy and various nutrients circulate
continuously in the ecosystem.
• The sun is the most important source of energy in any ecosystem.
• Green plants of the ecosystem store some of the solar energy in the form of food.
• Before reaching the decomposers, this energy is passed on from one trophic level to the
next.
• Decomposers dissipate some amount of energy in the form of heat.
• However, no part of the energy ever returns to the sun.
• Hence, such passage of energy is referred to as ‘one way’ transport.
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Bio-geo-chemical cycle
• Though the energy flow in an ecosystem is one way, the flow of nutrients is cyclical. All
organisms need nutrients for their growth.
• The cyclical flow of nutrients within an ecosystem is called the bio-geo-chemical cycle.
• Nutrients, necessary for the growth of organisms are continuously transferred from abiotic
to biotic factors and biotic to abiotic factors within an ecosystem.
• This cycle operates continuously through the medium of the biosphere formed by the
lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
• The recycling of biological, geological and chemical sources of nutrients in this process is a
complex process and depends upon the level of energy transfer in the ecosystem.
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Carbon cycle
• The carbon cycle the circulation and recycling of carbon from the atmosphere to living
organisms and after their death back to the atmosphere is called the carbon cycle.
• Abiotic carbon atoms are circulated and recycled into biotic form mainly through
photosynthesis and respiration. Hence, the carbon cycle is one of the important bio-geo-
chemical cycles.
• Plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis.
• Similarly, they produce carbon compounds like proteins and fats, too.
• Herbivores feed upon plants.
• Carnivores feed upon herbivores.
• In this way, biotic carbon is transported from plants to herbivores, from herbivores to
carnivores and from carnivores to apex consumers.
• Eventually, after death, all types of consumer, are decomposed by decomposers like bacteria
and fungi and carbon dioxide is released again into the atmosphere and is used again by
living organism.
• In this way, carbon is continuously passed on from one living organism to another.
• After the death of living organisms, carbon goes to the atmosphere and is again taken up by
living organisms.
• The oxygen cycle
• The oxygen cycle Oxygen forms 21% of the atmosphere.
• It is also present in the hydrosphere and lithosphere.
• Circulation and recycling of oxygen within the biosphere is called the oxygen cycle.
• This cycle, too, includes both the biotic and abiotic components.
• Oxygen is continuously produced as well as used up in the atmosphere.
• Oxygen is highly reactive and it readily reacts with other elements and compounds.
• As oxygen is found in various forms like molecular oxygen (O2 ), water (H2 O), carbon
dioxide (CO2 ), inorganic compounds, etc. the oxygen cycle of the biosphere is extremely
complex.
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• Oxygen is released in the process of photosynthesis whereas it is used up in processes like

respiration, combustion, decomposition, corrosion, rusting, etc.

The nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen forms 78% i.e., the maximum portion of the atmosphere.

It is necessary for the maintenance of the cycle of nature.

The circulation and recycling of nitrogen gas into the form of different compounds through various
biotic and abiotic processes in nature is called the nitrogen cycle.
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All organisms participate in the nitrogen cycle.

It is an important component of proteins and nucleic acids.

As compared to other elements, it is inactive and does not easily combine with other elements.

Most organisms cannot use the free form of nitrogen.

Important processes of the nitrogen cycle

1. Nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by
either a natural or an industrial means to a form of nitrogen such as ammonia.

2. Ammonification: Release of ammonia through decomposition of dead bodies and excretory wastes
of organisms. Ammonification is the process where microscopic organisms like bacteria or other types
of decomposing organisms, break down nitrogen containing chemicals from dead organic matter, into
simple substances like ammonia.

3. Nitrification: Conversion of ammonia into a nitrite and then nitrate. The process in which bacteria
in the soil use oxygen to change compounds of nitrogen in dead plant material into nitrates which
plants can then absorb as food.

4. Denitrification: Conversion of nitrogen compounds into gaseous nitrogen. It is the process by which
nitrates are converted into atmospheric nitrogen back to complete the cycle.
 EduVista Classes – Priyanka Ma’am

Chapter 7. Energy flow in an Ecosystem

Sub: Science (9 Std)
Worksheet

Fill in the Blanks:

1. _________, a British scientist first proposed the concept, of the ecological pyramid.
2. Each level in the food chain is called __________ level.
3. The flow of nutrients is _________
4. Microbes that do not need oxygen are called _________
5.Most Organisms do not use free __________
6. Living organism of the environment are __________ components.
7. Biotic and abiotic factors along the interactions occurring in them together constitute an
_________
8. The _______ is an extended ecosystem.
9. Sometimes the number of living organisms of an ecosystem is dependent upon the
_________ component of the ecosystem.
10.Only ________ of energy obtained from the sun is utilized by the producers.
Answer: Charles Elton, Trophic, cyclic, anaerobes, nitrogen, biotic, ecosystem, earth, 10%

Suggest suitable words in the fourth place:

1. Rabbit: Primary: Hawk: __________
2. Plants: Producers: Bacteria: __________
3. Tundra: Land biome: Ocean: __________
4. Producers: Autotroph: Consumer: ______

Multiple choice questions by choosing correct alternative:

1. The interrelationships among the different living organisms in any ecosystem for energy
transfer is called ___________
(a) food chain (b) Food pyramid
(c) energy pyramid (d) food dependency
2. The omnivorous living organism forms which trophic level?
(a) Producers (b) Primary consumer (c) Secondary
Consumer (d) Decomposers
3. Producers are __________ organisms.
(a) Autotrophic (b) Heterotrophic
(c) carnivorous (d) Omnivorous
4. Lizards on the wall and lizards in the garden are different in their _________
(a) Trophic levels (b) feeding style
(c) habitat (d) Mode of nutrition
5. Which of the following can be an apex consumer?
(a) rabbit (b) Cow (c) Fish (d) King
6. Which of the following forms first trophic level?
(a) Owl (b) Money (c) Man (d) Wheatgrass
7. Which of the following is not an omnivore?
(a) Man (b) Sparrow (c) cockroach (d) deer
Match the pair:

Column A Column B
1.Plants a) Tertiary consumer
2.Fungus b) Primary Consumer
3. Hawk c) Secondary consumer
4. Rabbit d) Decomposer
5. Snake e) producer
Fill in the Blanks :
1. Each level in a food chain is called a _________

2. Green plants in the living world are _________

3. An intricate network of food chains is called______

4. Organisms that are directly dependent on autotrophs are called ________ or __________

5. Micro- organisms that decompose the bodies of dead animals are called _______

6. Plants convert carbon dioxide into _______ by the process of photosynthesis.

7.Micro- organisms which do not need oxygen for respiration are called ________
8. The process of conversion of ammonia into a nitrite and then nitrate is called _______

9. In the pyramid of energy, the initial quality of energy goes on _______ at energy level of
energy exchange .

10. ________ is an important component of proteins and nucleic acids.

Find the odd man out:

1. Deer, eagle, tiger, leopard.
2. Crow, pig, frog, vulture.
3.Photosynthesis, ammonification, nitrifixation, denitrification.
4.Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, oxygen cycle.

State whether the following statements are true or false:

1. The flow of energy in an ecosystem is cyclic.

2. Carnivores of an ecosystem are called as producers.

3. The amount of matter and energy gradually decreases from producers to top consumers.

4. The gaseous cycle is a speedier cycle than the sedimentation cycle.

5. Micro- organisms which use oxygen for respiration are called aerobes.

6. Nitrogen forms maximum portion of the atmosphere.

7. The flow of nutrients through an ecosystem is cyclic.

8. Primary consumers are called the producers of the ecosystem.

Correct and rewrite the following statements and justify your corrections:

Carnivores occupy the second trophic level in the food chain.

The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is considered to be a ‘one way’ transport.

Plants in an ecosystem are called primary consumers.

Give reasons:

Energy flow through an ecosystem is ‘one way’.

Equilibrium is necessary in the various bio-geo-chemical cycles.

Flow of nutrients through an ecosystem is cyclic.

Explain the following cycles in your own words with suitable diagrams:

a. Carbon cycle.

b. Nitrogen cycle.

c. Oxygen cycle.