Energy flow in ecosystems: definition, characteristics and examples

All living beings who live in an ecosystem need matter and energy to execute their vital functions and, thus, develop their life cycles. The living beings of an ecosystem are grouped into trophic levels According to the way in which they obtain matter and energy, distinguishing the following levels:

• Producers: formed by autotrophic organisms responsible for capturing and using solar energy to transform inorganic matter into organic.
• Consumers: They are the heterotrophic organisms that feed on the producers thus obtaining the necessary matter and energy. These are divided into primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers, according to their predation relationship.
• Decomponers: The group of decomposing organisms includes bacteria and fungi that break down and transform organic and inorganic remains in matter that will be subsequently used for producers.

This way, Energy flows in an ecosystem When captured and set in the form of matter by producers and transferring to higher trophic levels, always through predation relationships, giving rise to Ecosystems matter and energy flow. To further expand this issue and better understand the flows between the levels, we advise you to read this other post of ecology see what the trophic levels are, what are and examples.

The sun is the main source of energy for most planet Earth’s ecosystems. But, if the sun gives the necessary energy, How does energy flow occur in ecosystems? This is the process:

1. Solar energy is absorbed and fixed in matter by photosynthesis by producers, components of the trophic chain base; The energy set by the photosynthesis process is equivalent to only 1% of the total amount of solar energy that reaches the earth’s surface.
2. This energy, together with the matter in biomass, is transferred at the following trophic levels until reaching higher levels with an efficacy of between 10-20% between one level and another, giving rise to Ecosystem matter and energy flow.
3. The energy within an ecosystem is dissipating as the ecosystem progresses, that is, it is gradually released to the environment in each trophic level in the form of heat through the cellular breathing process. These energy losses between the different trophic levels limit the length of the trophic chains and the biomass that will reach the upper trophic levels. This way, Energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectionalthat is, it advances in a single direction from producers to the upper trophic levels.
4. On the contrary, the matter that results from each trophic level (corpses of living beings, remains of their organisms, excrements, branches, dry leaves …) is accumulating on the ground and is available to decomponent organisms that, in turn, also release the energy in the form of heat to the environment.
5. These decomponers are responsible for transforming this organic matter and returning it to the environment in the form of inorganic matter, which will be used again by autotrophic organisms to enter the trophic network. Therefore, a closed matter cycle and unidirectional energy flow is distinguished.

One of the Characteristics of energy flow in ecosystems More important is that, on the one hand, energy is not created or destroyed, it is only transformed and that, on the other hand, this change of form entails a loss of energy in the form of heat.

The structuring of ecosystems at trophic levels and their energy flow occurs similarly both in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, with the exception of some marine organisms that do not use the sun as a source of energy. To make clear the concept treated in this article we will focus on the land system and, specifically, on the Forest Trophic Network Example. In general, in a forest you can identify the following components of the trophic network:

• Producers: trees, shrubs and plants.
• Primary consumers: rabbits, mice and squirrels.
• Secondary consumers: from the fox to the hawk.
• Scangers: foxes and vultures.
• Decomponers: insects, fungi and bacteria, among other various microorganisms.

Energy flow in the trophic forest network

1. Water and mineral salts present in the soil are absorbed by the roots of the trees and plants, to be transported to the leaves where, together with the CO2 and the captured energy of the sun, organic matter is manufactured by the process of photosynthesis.
2. These plants will be consumed by primary consumers.
3. These, in turn, will be consumed by their predators, secondary and tertiary consumers who pretend at the lower levels.
4. Also, the leaves that emerge from trees and plants, branches, fruits, etc., accumulate on the forest soil and, decomponers, will be responsible for transforming organic matter into inorganic nutrients. These nutrients will be absorbed again by the roots of plants and trees, starting the cycle again.

In the image below you can see another more general example on this topic, as you will see a trophic soil network, which also serves as Examples to understand energy flow in ecosystems.

Ecosystems lose energy in the form of heatsince living organisms cannot turn heat into other forms of energy. The heat derived from the cellular respiration process results in an increase in the temperature of the organisms, a phenomenon that can be very favorable for cold blood organisms, helping them to be more active. Even so, and according to the physical laws of thermodynamics, heat is transmitted from colder to hotter bodies. In this way, over time, The heat produced by organisms will be dissipated in the middle or environment. This can subtract some time within the ecosystem, but in the end, it will end up losing.

If you have been useful and you liked discovering everything about the flow of matter and energy within ecosystems, we also recommend that you take a look at this other article on how an ecosystem works.

If you want to read more articles similar to Energy flow in ecosystems: definition, characteristics and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.