Movement of matter and energy flow in ecosystems

Based on the concept of ecosystem can be arranged to Figure.

Sun as an energy source for Earth's solar energy that causes water to circulat
e in nature (water cycle), that the rocks were wearing and will form the materia
ls of soil and other rocks (rock cycle), that the air moving and conditioning th
e resulting wind climate. The energy and matter in living organisms Light ener
gy from the sun is used by photosynthetic beings and transformed into chemical e
nergy through light - photosynthesis - in which light enables the production (sy
nthesis) of organic matter (food) that will form the body of these beings and al
low your life.
Concept of Producer Green plants are called producers, they produce organic ma
terial using light energy, water, minerals and CO2. Results of photosynthesis, b
esides organic matter that will form the body of plants, Oxygen is
released into the atmosphere.
Beings autotrophic and heterotrophic plants that photosynthesize to produce th
eir food is given the name of autotrophs. Living beings who are unable to manufa
cture their food because they do not perform photosynthesis, are called heterotr
ophic. Beings are heterotrophic, animals, fungi and some bacteria and protists.
Concept of consumer Organisms which feed directly plants are called herbivores
or consumers of the 1st order. They use the energy contained in the body of the
plants to meet their basic needs, move and accumulate a surplus to build your o
wn body. Living things that eat herbivores are consumers of 2nd order, use the e
nergy contained in the body of herbivores to get their own energy. The organisms
that feed these are called consumers 3rd order and so on ...
Concept of decomposer There's still living that degrade organic matter, ie, tr
ansform the organic matter in mineral matter. These beings are called decomposer
s are decomposers that by acting on the bodies of producers, consumers and decom
posers, which will allow return to the mineral soil or water may be used again b
y producers, ie allow the recycling of matter.
cycle of matter and matter circulating trophic levels from producers to consum
ers and decomposers and both for these again to the producers. Called trophic le
vel to each of these steps. So for example, cabbage (producer) belongs to the 1s
t trophic level, the snail, which feeds on cabbage (consumer 1st order) belongs
to the 2nd trophic level; chicken (consumer 2nd order) belongs to the 3rd trophi
c level, the man eating chicken (3rd order consumer) belongs to the 4th trophic
level, bacteria and fungi that degrade any of them because they are decomposers,
belong to the next trophic level in relation to the body that are degrading.
So ... What is the trophic level of bacteria and fungi as decomposers degrade th
e chicken?
Energy flow
Not only matter that passes from one trophic level to another. The same applies
to energy. First light energy is converted into chemical energy by plants to pho
tosynthesize. This energy is used by plants for their activities and some is sto
red in organic substances that constitute the body of plants. Herbivores eat the
plants will get energy from food to eat. Consumer 1st order energy passes to th
e 2nd order and so on ... There is thus a flow of energy from the sun passes to
humans and these autotrophs to heterotrophs.
Webs and food chains
Among the producers and consumers of a community can establish a network of in
terconnections food. In this network of interconnections food is given the name
of Food Web. In a food web can identify several food chains. A food chain repres
ents a number of organisms where each organism feeds on the individual in the tr
ophic level above and, in turn nourishes the next trophic level.
Movement of matter and energy in food chains through a food chain is matter an
d energy. Therefore, there is also a web feed passage of matter and energy from
trophic level to trophic level. The matter will return to the substrate by actio
n of decomposers. Then, an ecosystem is a circular area and a constant renewal o
f light energy into chemical energy (food)