Energy Flow in Environment : Ecological Energetics

What is Energy:
The ability or capacity to do work,
Radiant, Chemical, thermal, mechanical, nuclear, electrical.

What is Energy Flow:
The existence of flora and fauna in ecosystem depends upon the cycle of minerals and flow of energy. Energy is needed for all the biotic activities. The only source of this energy is the sun. The entrance, transformation and diffusion of energy in ecosystem are governed by laws of thermodynamics.

1. Topic :- Energy Flow in Environment: Ecological energetics Submitted to:- Presented by:- Department of Zoology Kamlesh Patel St. Aloysius College Jabalpur M.P. M.Sc. Zoology 3 rd Sem

2. Synopsis Introduction The Laws of Thermodynamics Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration 10% Law of Energy Transfer Y-Shaped Energy Flow Model Food Chain Food Web Ecological Pyramid Models

3. Introduction What is Energy: The ability or capacity to do work Radiant, Chemical, thermal, mechanical, nuclear, electrical. What is Energy Flow: The existence of flora and fauna in ecosystem depends upon the cycle of minerals and flow of energy . Energy is needed for all the biotic activities . The only source of this energy is the sun . The entrance, transformation and diffusion of energy in ecosystem are governed by laws of thermodynamics .

4. The Laws of Thermodynamics First Law of Thermodynamic: Energy can be transformed from one form into another, it can neither be created nor destroyed. Second Law of Thermodynamic: During the process of transformation of energy, some of the transformed energy is diffused from the ecosystem in dispersed form.

5. Energy Flow Through Ecosystems R = Energy loss through Respiration E = Energy loss from Grazing food chain to Detrivores and Decomposers Through Excretion and Egestion C = Consumption by Organism at the higher Trophic Level R R R R C C C E E E E Photosynthesis

6. Photosynthesis The process where the Sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy (Glucose/Sugar). Occurs in PLANTS!! Producer – an organism that makes its own energy-rich food compounds using the Sun’s energy. Energy captured by plants via photosynthesis is transferred to the organisms that eat the plants. 6 CO 2 + 12 H 2 O + radiant energy C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 H 2 O + 6 O 2

7. Cellular Respiration The process where the chemical energy captured in photosynthesis is released within cells of plants and animals. This energy is then used for biological work Creating new cells, reproduction, movement, etc. C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 + 6 H 2 O 6 CO 2 + 12 H 2 O + energy

8. 10% Law of Energy Transfer The  Ten percent law  for the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next was introduced by Lindemann (1942) . According to this law,  During the transfer of energy from organic food from one trophic level to the next, only about ten percent of the energy from organic matter is stored as flesh.  The remaining is lost during transfer, broken down in respiration, or lost to incomplete digestion by higher trophic levels.

9. Energy flow in different trophic levels of Lindeman’s Ecosystem

10. “Rule of 10” Only ~10% passes to next level. Therefore, ~90% LOSS at each Trophic Level. 10

11. Y-Shaped Energy Flow Model According to E.P. Odum (1983), naturally, two types of food chain function in ecosystem. 1. Grazing food chain - Which begins from green plants and proceeds towards herbivores and then towards carnivores 2. Detritus food chain - Which starts from rotten organic substances and proceeds towards carnivores thought detrivores .

12. Food Chain Food chain – Shows one path of the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Energy from food passes from one organisms to another Each “ link ” is called a trophic level Order of the food chain: Sun – energy source Producer 1 st level Consumer – eats producers 2 nd level Consumer – eats 1 st level consumers Decomposer – recycles materials for use by producers

13. Food Web A model that shows the energy flow through different organisms in an ecosystem. Consists of many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem

14. Ecological Pyramid Models The idea of Ecological pyramids was given by Charles Elton (1927) The graphical representation of number, biomass and stored energy of various trophic levels of food chain in an ecosystem is called Ecological pyramid. Three types of ecological pyramids : Pyramid of Numbers Pyramid of Biomass Pyramid of Energy Energy Loss

15. Pyramid of Numbers Compares the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain. Typically pyramid shaped, with the largest number of organisms at the producer level: Inverted Pyramid of Numbers in Forest Upright Pyramid of Numbers in an Aquatic Ecosytem

16. Pyramid of Biomass Shows the amount of living matter in a food chain. Total dry weight (without water) of organisms in a food chain Mass/Area Example: g/m 2

17. Pyramid of Energy Energy pyramid - Energy loss and transfer between trophic levels; the size of each layer represents the amount of energy available at that trophic level. Only about 10% of the energy taken in by the individuals at one trophic level is passed on to individuals at the next level.

18. References www.google.co.in https://www.slideshare.net/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_flow_(ecology) Fundamentals of Ecology – M. C. Dash Fundamentals of Environmental Biology – S. Arora

19. Thank You