Name: __________________________________ (

Date: ______________

Fundamental Science (1)

2015 week 6

Topic: Energy Transfers in an Ecosystem

1. Definition of Food Chain
i.

It shows the transfer of energy in the form of food through organism in

an ecosystem.

2. More about Food Chain

i.

Food Chain also shows predator-prey relationship.

ii.

Each organism in a food chain is a link. Food chains usually have

fewer than five links.

iii.

A food starts with a producer (a green plant) which can make its own
food. Plants are producers which use light energy from the Sun to
make food.

iv.

Herbivores which feed on plants directly are primary consumers.

Secondary consumers feed on primary consumers and tertiary
consumers feed on secondary consumers. Carnivores are
secondary or tertiary consumers.

3. Definition of Food Web

i.

It is formed from interconnected food chain in an ecosystem.

ii.

Any change in the link of a food web can upset its delicate balance.

4. Food Chain and Energy Transfers

i.

The energy transferred decreases along a food chain as energy is lost

to the environment as heat during respiration or as faeces and
excretory products, and some energy is used up for carrying out life
processes.

ii.

Energy is not recycled in an ecosystem as heat lost to the

environment cannot be reused by organisms. Therefore, there is a
need for a constant energy source of energy in an ecosystem.

iii.

The Sun is the primary source of energy in most ecosystems.

Matahari School Science for Lower Secondary Level (SCC-LSC)

Enrichment Exercise (Self-assessment)

1. Definition of Food Chain
i.

It shows the __________________ in the form of food through organism in an

_______________.

2. More about Food Chain

i.

Food Chain also shows _________________________.

ii.

Each organism in a food chain is a _______. Food chains usually have fewer
than five links.

iii.

A food starts with a ______________ (a green plant) which can make its own
food. Plants are producers which use _______________ from the Sun to
make food.

iv.

_____________ which feed on plants directly are ________________.

_____________________ feed on primary consumers and
__________________ feed on secondary consumers. ____________ are
secondary or tertiary consumers.

3. Definition of ______________
i.

It is formed from __________________ food chain in an ecosystem.

ii.

Any change in the link of a food web can upset its delicate balance.

4. Food Chain and Energy Transfers

i.

The energy transferred ____________ along a food chain as energy is lost to

the environment as ________ during respiration or as faeces and excretory
products, and some energy is used up for carrying out life processes.

ii.

Energy is not ____________ in an ecosystem as heat lost to the environment

cannot be reused by organisms. Therefore, there is a need for a
__________________ source of energy in an ecosystem.

iii.

The Sun is the __________________ of energy in most ecosystems.

decreases

light energy

primary consumers

tertiary consumers

producer

primary source

Food Web

recycled

link

carnivores

ecosystem

heat

herbivores

transfer of energy

secondary
consumers

interconnected

constant energy

predator-prey
relationship

Matahari School Science for Higher Secondary Level (SCC-HSC)