A Pyramid of Energy:
Energy Transfer in an Ecosystem
Name: ____________________________
What You Need to Know:
•
•
•
A. _________________
The ________________ is the ultimate source of energy for all
living organisms
The sun provides energy ________________to producers and
________________to herbivores, omnivores and carnivores.
As you go ________________ the food chain/energy pyramid
the amount of available energy ________________ because
you are getting further away from the original source of
energy, the ________________.
B. _________________
C. _________________
D. ____________
Conclusion: As you move up the energy pyramid, only ______ of the energy is transferred to the next level.
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A Pyramid of Energy:
Energy Transfer in an Ecosystem
Name: ____________________________
What You Do: Practice calculating the transfer of energy through an ecosystem.
1. Create a food chain using the following: algae, tadpole, minnow, sun, Blue Heron, alligator.
2. Based on the word parts of PRImary, SECONDary, TERTIary, and QUARTERnary consumer, what label would you
provide for the alligator? Explain.
3. If the amount of energy from the sun in the food chain from #1 equals 2500 units, calculate the energy available at each
level of the energy pyramid for the producer and each of the consumers that follow. Use the energy pyramid on the
front page to guide you.
© Getting Nerdy, LLC
A Pyramid of Energy:
Energy Transfer in an Ecosystem
Teacher Key
What You Do: Practice calculating the transfer of energy through an ecosystem.
1. Create a food chain using the following: algae, tadpole, minnow, sun, Blue Heron, alligator.
SUN - ALGAE - MINNOW - BLUE HERON - ALLIGATOR
2. Based on the word parts of PRImary, SECONDary, TERTIary, and QUARTERnary what label would you provide for
the alligator? Explain.
THE ALLIGATOR WOULD BE A QUARTERNARY CONSUMER BECAUSE IT IS THE FOURTH (QUATRO = FOUR)
ORGANISM TO CONSUME OR EAT IN THE FOOD CHAIN.
3. If the amount of energy from the sun in the food chain from #1 equals 2500 units, calculate the energy available at each
level of the energy pyramid for the producer and each of the consumers that follow. Use the energy pyramid on the
front page to guide you.
SUN = 2500; ALGAE RECEIVES 2500 UNITS FROM SUN, USES 2250 AND STORES 250; MINNOW RECEIVES 250 FROM
ALGAE, USES 225 AND STORES 25; BLUE HERON RECEIVES 25 FROM MINNOW, USES 22.5 AND STORES 2.5;
ALLIGATOR RECEIVES 2.5 FROM BLUE HERON, USES 2.25 AND STORES .25
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