Food Chain
The food chain represents the flow of energy from one level to the other in an ecosystem. It is based on the fact that an organism is consumed by another organism in the ecosystem. In general, the food chain exists only in small ecosystems, and this is replaced by a food web in complex ecosystems.
In the above food chain:
- In the first stage, plants are eaten by herbivores such as grasshoppers.
- Then herbivores such as deer are consumed by carnivores such as lions, tigers, etc.
- On the death of carnivores, they are consumed by scavengers such as eagles and vultures.
- When vultures die, their bodies are broken down by bacteria and fungi to nutrients.
- These nutrients are again used by the plants for their growth.
Energy Flow of Ecosystem
The energy flow of ecosystem means the pathway energy takes to move from one organism to another in an ecosystem. The energy flow of an ecosystem is a fundamental concept of ecological studies. The direction of flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional and is typically in the form of food energy that flows from one trophic level to another. It harnesses the energy that cascades through the food chain and food webs. Read this article to learn about energy flow in ecosystem notes, the laws of thermodynamics that govern it, and the mechanism of energy flow.
Table of Content
- What is Ecosystem?
- What is Energy Flow of Ecosystem?
- Energy Flow of Ecosystem Diagram
- Laws of Thermodynamics in Ecosystem
- What is the Direction of Energy Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem?
- Mechanism of Energy Flow in Ecosystem
- Food Chain
- Significance of Energy Flow in Ecosystem