28.1 How energy and nutrients move 28.

2 How energy flows along

throughout the ecosystems? of the ecosystems?

Energy enters ecosystems through photosynthesis.

Ecosystems are sustained by a The photosynthetic organisms act as energy

continuous entry of conduits and nutrients to biological communities.

solar energy and the constant The energy is transmits up through trophic levels

recycling of nutrients. (of feeding). Autotrophs are photosynthetic and are

Energy enters the biotic portion of called producers,the lower trophic level. Among

ecosystems when the heterotrophs, herbivores form the second level:

take advantage of photosynthetic primary consumers. Carnivores act as secondary

organisms. Nutrients are obtained by consumers when they hunt herbivores and

organisms in their living and non- as tertiary or higher level consumers when they eat

living environment and are to other carnivores. The omnivores, which consume

recycled within and between so much plants Like other animals, they occupy

ecosystems. multiple trophic levels. The feeding relationships in

which each trophic level is represented by an

organism are called trophic chains. In natural

ecosystems, food relationships are complex and

They are described as trophic networks.

Key terms macronutrient

micronutrient

hydrological cycle trophic level

fossil fuel nutriment

consumer omnivore

Primary consumer energy pyramid

secondary consumer primary production

tertiary consumer producer

deforestation trophic network

acid deposition saprophyte

Deposit perspiration

detritus phage zooplankton

greenhouse effect

estuary cycle of nitrogen

Fixation of nitrogen

phytoplankton

effect gases

greenhouse

herbivorous

heterotroph

legume