Wonder Question

How Does Energy Flow Through An Ecosystem?

Fifth Grade Science Standard and Benchmark

Standard 3: Life and Environment Science: ORGANISMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Understand
the unity, diversity, and interrelationships of organisms, including their relationship to cycles of
matter and energy in the environment.

Benchmark: SC 5.3.1 Describe the cycle of energy among the producers, consumers, and
decomposers.
SC 5.3.2 Describe the interdependent relationships among producers, consumers, and
decomposers in an ecosystem in terms of the cycle of matter.

How does energy flow through an ecosystem? Before answering this question, the definition of
the terms energy and ecosystem will be stated in order to provide a better understanding of what
the question is asking. Energy is defined as the strength required for sustained physical and mental
activity. Ecosystem is defined as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical
environment.
An ecosystem usually consists of three groups; the producers, the consumers, and the
decomposers. Each group plays an important role in the ecosystem, and relies on the other groups for
energy. These groups will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
Producers attain their energy through a process called photosynthesis. These organisms usually
do not directly depend on other organisms for energy, as photosynthesis is the process of converting
light from the sun into energy. All plants and phytoplankton would be considered producers because
they produce energy for consumers.
Consumers rely on other organisms to gain energy. There are three types of consumers,
primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary consumers consume producers, such as small fish eating
plankton or mice eating seeds. Secondary consumers consume primary consumers, such as bigger fish
eating the smaller fish or a snake eating the mouse. Tertiary consumers consume secondary
consumers, such as humans eating the bigger fish or an owl eating the snake.
Decomposers help break down dead animals and plants to provide nutrients for new plants to
grow. For example, bacteria forms on rotting produce to break it down into nutrients to help new
plants grow. We commonly know this as fertilizer. Organisms like fungus and earthworms also fill this
recycling role. Although they are often overlooked decomposers fill the important role of resetting
the energy cycle.
Food chains contain producers, consumers, and decomposers. However, there are many food
chains in different ecosystems, and one member of a food chain might be a member in another. Thus, all
food chains are part of a gigantic food web, in which chains overlap with others.
Since food chains overlap with other chains, it is important for balance to be present. The
diagram below displays a food chain in a pyramid-type format. At the bottom level of the pyramid
contains the producers, the next level contains the primary consumers, the next level up contains the
secondary consumers, and the top level contains the tertiary consumer.

Using this example, imagine that the bottom level, the plants, died either due to drought or
some type of de-forestation, it would make the pyramid unbalanced. Without plants, rats would either
die out from lack of food or would go seek some other source of food for survival. This pattern would
continue through the levels of the pyramid, ultimately reaching the top of the pyramid.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the safety and continuity of all species on the planet, not only
the endangered ones. Some might question the necessity of certain species, such as cockroaches, but
even the extinction of one species will display drastic changes and create a domino effect throughout
the world.

Resources
http://schoolworkhelper.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/trophic-levels-food-chain.jpeg
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geographyforkids/0162foodchains.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_chain
http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm