MS: Energy Flow In A Marine Ecosystem

How Does Energy Flows Within a Marine Ecosystem?

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Like humans, whales need nutrients from different food sources to survive!

For baleen whales, like humpbacks, krill is one of these vital sources of nutrients.

Whales are some of the largest mammals in the world so they need to eat a lot! You do the math below!

500 krill = 1 pound. A humpback needs to eat 5,500 pounds of krill each day. How many individual krill does the humpback whale need to eat?

2,750,000 Krill

250,000 Krill

5, 500 Krill

Correct! You're Krillin It!

Not Quite! Check Your Math and Try Again!

Not Quite! Check Your Math and Try Again!

Whales play a major role in many marine food chains. A food chain is a hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

Organize the Food Chain Below

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What To Do

Eats

Eats

What Am I? Uncovering the Different Roles Organisms Play Within A Food Chain.

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What To Do

PRIMARY CONSUMER

SECONDARY CONSUMER

PRODUCER

Eats

Eats

Food chains can also be visualized as food pyramids to better show the transfer of energy.

Energy Flow:

Energy Flow

• Trophic levels are the specific levels in a food chain that an organism(s) occupy based on their energy source.

• Food pyramids and trophic levels better inform us "who" sits on top, middle, and bottom of the food chain.

• The primary source of energy in a food chain starts at the 1st trophic level (producers) and flows up to the next trophic level to the primary consumers, and from primary consumers to secondary consumers.

• However, 100% of energy is not transferred from one trophic level to the next...

1st Trophic Level (Primary Producers)

2nd Trophic Level (Primary Consumers)

3rd Trophic Level (Secondary Consumers)

A Closer Look At Energy Flow Across Trophic Levels in a Food Chain.

3. Simply put, nine-thenths of the food value is lost as heat energy to the environment at each trophic level of the pyramid. 4. Only about one-tenth of the available energy tranfers from one trophic level to the next.

1. Mentioned earlier, 100% of energy is not transferred from one level to the next.2. The transer of energy from base to peak of the food pyramid is goverened by the "10 percent rule".

Energy Flow

A Closer Look At Energy Flow Across Trophic Levels in a Food Chain.

Calculate Energy Flow On Your Own

Energy Flow

90% energy lost as heat to environment.

9 energy units lost

10 % of energy transferred to next level

1 energy unit

10 energy units

90% energy lost as heat to environment.

90 energy units lost

10 % of energy transferred to next level

100 energy units

Your Turn to Flow (energy)!

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What To Do

Answer Box

60

540

54

10 % of energy transfered to next level

90% energy lost as heat to environment.

10 % of energy transfered to next level

90% energy lost as heat to environment.

600 Energy Units

You're Doing Great!

Before You Continue...

Take Two Breaths In...

And Take Two Breaths Out

Did You Know...

One of the two breaths you took was made possible by microscopic phytoplankton? Remember, phytoplankton is a primary producer that occupies the 1st trophic level of our marine food chain.

Click on the Picture To Find Out How!

Phytoplankton and Terrestrial Plants occupy the 1st Trophic level (bottom of the food chain)...so the question becomes

Terrestrial Food Chain

Marine Food Chain

3rd Trophic Level (Secondary Consumers)

2nd Trophic Level (Primary Consumers)

1st Trophic Level (Primary Producers)

Phytoplankton and Terrestrial Plants occupy the 1st Trophic level (bottom of the food chain)...so the question becomes

Terrestrial Food Chain

Marine Food Chain

3rd Trophic Level (Secondary Consumers)

2nd Trophic Level (Primary Consumers)

1st Trophic Level (Primary Producers)

Where Do Terrestrial Plants Get Their Nutrients From?

Hover over the question mark to reveal the answer. Then click on the picture to learn more!

Since phytoplankton do not have access to terrestrial soil, where do they get vital nutrients from?

Hover over the question mark to reveal the answer. Then click on the picture to learn more!

The Bigger Picture

Whales (Poop) is the ocean gardener that fertilizes phytoplankton with vital nutrient they need to carry out photosynthesis. This connection is crucial as photosynthesis from phytoplankton plays a huge role in regulating climate. Check Out The Video Below That Put It All Together!