Seaweeds use a process called photosynthesis to get their energy (food) from the sun.
All organisms which photosynthesise are known as primary producers.
Producers make their own food for energy
While consumers eat other organisms for energy
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Urchins are are herbivores and graze on seaweeds.
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As they only eat primary producers
urchins are known as primary consumers.
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Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are tiny algae which live in the ocean which is also a primary producer which use photosynthesis to get their energy from the sun.
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Zooplankton (also known as “animal plankton”)
are also primary consumers as they eat phytoplankton.
Some fish which eat seaweed too and are also known as herbivores.
These primary consumers have a specialised digestion system that allows them to digest seaweeds.
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The energy from the sun, captured by the seaweed is transferred up the food chain.
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The energy from the sun, captured by the seaweed is transferred up the food chain.
Biologists use arrows to show the direction of flow of this energy.
Secondary consumers eat herbivores
Secondary consumers eat herbivores
Predators may eat many different animals
Predators may eat many different animals
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Rough rock crab
Nectocarcinus integrifrons
Some species are detritivores and may eat decaying plant and animal material
Food chains show a single pathway that energy and nutrients may transfer through an ecosystem.
Food Chains
Food chains show a single pathway that energy and nutrients may transfer through an ecosystem.
Food Chains
Food chains show a single pathway that energy and nutrients may transfer through an ecosystem.
Food Chains
Food chains show a single pathway that energy and nutrients may transfer through an ecosystem.
Food Chains
Food chains show a single pathway that energy and nutrients may transfer through an ecosystem.
Food Chains
Butterfly Perch
Caesioperca lepidoptera
Some species can be on multiple trophic levels.
Food webs
Energy flow in an ecosystem and food web interactions.
Lesson 5
Primary
Producer
Primary
Consumer
Secondary
Consumer
Secondary
And Tertiary Consumer
Some species can be on multiple trophic levels.
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Biomass is the “living weight” in an area
There is always more biomass in lower trophic levels than in higher ones.
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Southern calamari
Sepioteuthis australis
At each level in the food chain, some energy is also released to the environment.
Only about 10 percent of the chemical energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.