Power Pyramid Slides Power Pyramid
Energy Flow in Nature
The Power Pyramid
An Energy Pyramid is a model that shows how much energy is available at each level of an ecosystem.
Energy flows upward from the bottom.
Less energy is available the higher you go!
Levels of the Pyramid
Level 1: Producers
The Energy Foundation
These organisms make their own food using sunlight through photosynthesis .
Grass Trees Algae
Fuel for the Whole Pyramid
Level 2: Primary Consumers
The Herbivores
These animals eat producers to get their energy.
Rabbits
Caterpillars
Deer
Higher Trophic Levels
Secondary
Carnivores or omnivores that eat the herbivores.
Snakes, Frogs, Spiders
Tertiary
Apex predators at the top of the food chain.
Hawks, Owls, Wolves
The 10% Rule
Only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed up to the next level!
100%
Producers
10%
Primary
1%
Secondary
0.1%
Tertiary
Where does the 90% go? Heat and metabolic processes!
Pyramid Puzzle Activity Pyramid Puzzle
Field Research Activity
Name:
Date:
Instructions: Build your energy pyramid using the "Field Scraps" on the next page.Label cards and the 4 Organism cards.left and organisms on the right .Match the Colors: Glue the cards into their matching colorful slots!
Field Scraps (Cut Out)
Cut along the dotted lines to fit inside the colorful slots
Tertiary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Producer
Red-Tailed Hawk
Eats snakes & mice
Rattlesnake
Eats frogs & mice
Field Mouse
Eats seeds & grass
Prairie Grass
Grows using sunlight
Trophic Tracks Worksheet Trophic Tracks
Matching & Identification
Observer:
Date:
Part 1: The Connections
Draw a line to match each description to its correct trophic level.
Makes its own food
A Wolf (Eats deer)
An herbivore
Top of the pyramid
Primary Consumer
Producer
Tertiary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Part 2: Field ID
Wildflower
Trophic Level:
Squirrel
Trophic Level:
Great Horned Owl
Trophic Level:
Part 3: Diagram Lab
Color and label each tier using the Word Bank.
Tertiary Secondary Primary Producer
Energy Expert Answer Key Energy Expert
The Complete Unit Answer Key
MASTER KEY
1. Pyramid & Trophic Tracks
Pyramid: Hawk (T) > Snake (S) > Mouse (P) > Grass (Prod)
Field ID: Flower (P), Squirrel (P.Cons), Owl (T.Cons)
2. Web Connections
Forest: Wolf (Apex), Fox/Owl (Sec), Mouse/Squirrel (Pri), Tree (Prod)
Deep Dive: Algae/Weed (P). Minnow, Snail, Bass, Duck, Kingfisher (C).
3. Habitat Hike (NEW)
• Arctic: Lichen (P), Caribou (C), Polar Bear (C)
• Desert: Cactus (P), Mouse (C), Snake (C)
• Reef: Seaweed (P), Parrotfish (C), Shark (C)
4. Wild Way Bridge
Design checklist: Needs vegetation, safety walls, and width for large mammals. Connects producers to consumers.
Reading Quiz
1. Sun | 2. Foundation | 3. 10% Pass-on | 4. Rabbit
Discussion Target
Focus on interdependence . If one piece of the web moves or disappears (due to heat, cold, or roads), the whole system shifts to find a new balance.
Trophic Tales Reading Worksheet Trophic Tales
Field Guide Reading
Observer:
Date:
The Energy Highway
In every ecosystem, energy is constantly moving. This movement is called energy flow . Every living thing needs energy to survive, grow, and reproduce. For almost all life on Earth, the journey begins with the sun.
Organisms called producers , like plants and algae, are the first step. They capture sunlight and turn it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Because they make their own food, they form the wide base of the energy pyramid .
The next levels are made of consumers . Primary consumers are herbivores that eat only producers. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers, and tertiary consumers sit at the very top, eating secondary consumers.
As energy moves up, there is less available at each level. The 10% Rule states that only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed on to the next. The other 90% is used for movement and growth, or is lost as heat. This is why there are many more plants than there are apex predators!
Quick Check
1. Where does the energy journey begin for most life on Earth?
The deep ocean
The sun
2. Why are producers at the base of the energy pyramid?
They eat all other consumers
They provide the foundation for all other life
3. What is the "10% Rule" described in the text?
Only 10% of the energy is passed to the next level
Organisms grow 10% larger at each level
4. Which of these is a primary consumer (herbivore)?
A grass-eating rabbit
A hawk (predator)
Web Weavers Slides Web Weavers
Complex Connections in Nature
Chain vs. Web
Food Chain
One direct path of energy.
Grass Rabbit Fox
Food Web
Many overlapping paths!
Hawk
Mouse
Bird
Grass
Land Connections
In terrestrial ecosystems, webs are built on plants.
Producers: Trees & Grass.
Consumers: Mammals & Birds.
Energy From
Energy To
Water Connections
Phytoplankton
The invisible engine of the ocean.
The Aquatic Base:
Energy starts with tiny algae.
Zooplankton pass energy to fish.
The Arrow Rule
The arrow ALWAYS points in the direction of the energy flow.
"Into the Mouth!"
Forest Floor Web Activity Forest Floor Web
Web Template
Researcher:
Instructions: Build your food web using the Scraps on the next page.Draw Energy Arrows from the food source to the eater!(Hint: Arrows should show which way the energy is moving!)
Apex Predator
Secondary
Secondary
Primary
Primary
Producer
Forest Eco-Scraps
Cut and glue onto Page 1
Gray Wolf
Eats foxes and owls.
Red Fox
Eats mice and squirrels.
Horned Owl
Eats mice and squirrels.
Field Mouse
Eats fruit and nuts.
Squirrel
Eats nuts and fruit.
Oak & Berries
Grows fruit using sunlight.
Web Research Checklist
All 6 organisms are glued down.
Arrows start at the food.
Arrows point to the mouth.
The Apex predator is at the top.
Deep Dive Web Activity Deep Dive Web
Aquatic Ecosystem Detective
Explorer: ____________________
Mission: Build a pond food web using these 7 organisms .P for Producer or C for Consumer.Energy Arrows from the food source to the consumer!
Kingfisher
Eats Fish
Bass Fish
Eats Minnows
Mallard Duck
Eats Pondweed
Minnow
Eats Algae
Pond Snail
Eats Algae
Algae
Sun Power
Pondweed
Sun Power
Analysis Question:
If the Algae were removed, which animals would be affected? Why?
Wild Way Bridge Activity Wild Way Bridge
Ecosystem Engineering: Part 1
Engineer:
Date:
The Mission
Habitat fragmentation has cut off the Forest Floor ecosystem . Animals cannot reach their food sources across Highway 101. Your task is to sketch a Wildlife Crossing Bridge in the drafting area below.
Drafting & Design Area
Consider: Wolves Foxes Owls Mice Plants
Highway 101
North Forest (Food Source)
South Forest (Animals)
Sketch your design here
• Natural Substrate • Safety Rails • Shrubbery & Cover
Design Report
Project Part 2: Analysis
1. Design Features
List three specific features you added to the bridge and explain how they help animals cross safely.
A.
B.
C.
2. Energy Flow Analysis
Choose one consumer. Explain what would happen to its energy flow if this bridge did not exist.
Selected Animal:
Final Construction Checklist
Native Grasses & Soil
Sound-Blocking Walls
Safety Railings
Shrubs for Cover
Entrance Funnels
Reflectors
Eco Expedition Slides Eco-Expedition
Energy in Extreme Habitats
Frozen Flow: The Tundra
In the freezing Arctic, energy must be captured and stored quickly during the short summer.
Producers: Lichen, moss, and dwarf shrubs.Apex: Polar Bears and Arctic Wolves.
Energy is lost as heat!
Heat Wave: The Desert
Water Is Energy
Plants save water to keep their energy.
Energy flow in the desert often happens at night to stay cool.
Producers: Cactus and desert shrubs.Consumers: Lizards, rodents, scorpions.
Ocean Cities: The Reef
Coral reefs are highly diverse. Paths of energy cross like city streets!
Producers: Algae and tiny phytoplankton.Apex: Reef Sharks and Eels.
Complex Web
The Bridge Mission
Habitat Fragmentation
When roads cut through nature, energy flow stops. Predators can't find prey, and producers get overpopulated!
Task: Design a bridge for animals to cross safely!
Engineer a Solution
Your bridge needs food (plants), shelter (bushes), and height to keep animals away from cars.
Expedition Quiz
1. Which biome has producers that capture energy in a short summer?
A) Desert
B) Arctic Tundra
2. Why does energy flow in the desert often happen at night?
A) To stay cool
B) There is more sun
3. A wildlife bridge helps solve what problem?
A) Too much rain
B) Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat Hike Activity Habitat Hike
Biome Identification Challenge
Explorer:
The Mission: Scientists mixed up their organism photos from three different biomes!Habitat Cards on the next page.Producer in each ecosystem.
Arctic Tundra
Hot Desert
Coral Reef
Expedition Photos
Cut and glue onto Page 1
Polar Bear
Apex Predator
Seaweed
Producer (Sun Energy)
Saguaro Cactus
Producer (Sun Energy)
Reef Shark
Apex Predator
Caribou
Herbivore (Eats Lichen)
Desert Mouse
Herbivore (Eats Seeds)
Arctic Lichen
Producer (Sun Energy)
Rattlesnake
Consumer (Eats Mice)
Parrotfish
Consumer (Eats Algae)
