The Carbon Cycle

And the role of earthworms

Energy flow through the

ecosystem

General Integrated Science Year 11

Principles of the ecosystem
Energy flows through ecosystems.
Energy flows through food chains and
food webs.
Energy is transformed from light to
chemical energy to heat energy.
Carbon atoms are neither created nor
destroyed. Carbon atoms are recycled
through the biosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere and the atmosphere.
Plants use light energy to build glucose
molecules during photosynthesis.

+ +

6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 +6O 2

carbon + water glucose +oxygen

dioxide
Plants use the glucose they make.
Respiration releases chemical
energy from glucose for growth,
repair, reproduction.
Plants are called
autotrophs because
they use the glucose
that they make.
Animals eat plants and
other animal products
to obtain glucose.
Animals are
heterotrophs.
Animals release chemical ENERGY
from glucose by respiration. Chemical
ENERGY is used for movement,
thinking, growing, reproduction.
We know that
energy is
released
because we
sense it as
heat energy.

Humans
sweat to help
the flow of
heat from our
Animals respire glucose to release
chemical ENERGY. Chemical ENERGY is
used for movement, thinking, growing,
reproduction.
We know that
energy is
released
because it is
sensed as
heat.

Dogs pant to
help the flow
of heat from
their bodies.
So we think of energy as being lost
from the ecosystem.
How do
we
replace
lost
energy?
Plants are autotrophs and Animals
are heterotrophs

All organisms cycle

carbon atoms.
The energy in
glucose is released
during cellular
respiration.
CO2 is released
during cellular
respiration.
The Carbon
Cycle
 The Carbon Cyc
6 CO2
6 H2O Recycles carbon atoms
and so allows the flow
of ENERGY through
6 O2 all organisms.
eating breathing
C6H12O6

Cellular respiration
Releases CO2 and energy
for growth, movement