Model the movement of matter among environments - 5th Grade Science

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain in an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."

Energy is recycled in a food chain and flows between producers, consumers, and decomposers. There is no accumulation of energy; a final consumer does not end up with all the energy; it is recycled and transferred through prey/predator relationships.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."

An example of a food chain is presented in the graphic below. It starts with the Sun providing the energy needed for the producer's photosynthesis. The plant is eaten by an herbivore, which is consumed by a carnivore (and there may be a few carnivores in the chain), and finally, the waste and remains for dead organisms are broken down by decomposers to be put back into the ecosystem.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain when all the necessary organisms are present, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the Sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants." Plants (producers) rely on sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. Though herbivores and carnivores do not get their energy directly from the Sun, they still rely on the plants (producers) who do and that energy is passed through the food chain.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

Each arrow represents the direction energy is flowing. Energy moves to the mushrooms because they are decomposers, and they break down the remains of dead organisms. They distribute waste and nutrients back into the food chain through soil absorption.

Energy is transferred throughout the environment by consuming plants and animals, photosynthesis, and the breaking down of dead organisms. In this environment, a new consumer was introduced - the rabbit. They ate all of the producers (plants) in the area because they are herbivores. The plants could not keep up with their reproduction and were wiped out because of the large rabbit population and the number of plants needed to sustain them. The farmer would have to supplement the rabbits with other plant or plant by-products to keep his rabbit population growing.

The answer choices are correct and list possible problems with introducing a disease into the rabbit population. With 600 million rabbits, it is possible that the decomposers cannot keep up with the number of dead rabbits. If there are too many rabbits dying and the decomposers can't keep up, it could lead to carcasses building up, which can introduce new disease, and it will look and smell bad. Decomposers break down the waste and dead organisms, and they could catch the same illness or become sickly because of eating the sick rabbits. Over time organisms build up immunities to disease, and the condition can mutate. Over time, the infection could spread to other animals or mutate, and new symptoms emerge with the rabbits.

Energy flows to the decomposers as they break down the remains of dead organisms. They distribute waste and nutrients back into the food chain through soil absorption. When the decomposers dispose of a carcass, they are absorbing energy to sustain themselves, but they are also returning it to the Earth for other organisms to use.

Organisms are dependent on each other for a source of energy. Producers rely on the Sun, consumers rely on producers and smaller prey earlier in the chain, and final consumers need weaker animals to feed on. Decomposers rely on the waste and carcasses of dead consumers, and they return nutrients to the soil. Each organism has a role to play, and the others will not survive if one link in the chain goes missing.

The mushrooms represent the decomposer that breaks down waste from animal and plant remains. Multiple arrows point to the mushrooms because they receive energy from all organisms once they have died.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transformed and transferred through the food chain in a very clear way, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain in an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."

Energy is recycled in a food chain and flows between producers, consumers, and decomposers. There is no accumulation of energy; a final consumer does not end up with all the energy; it is recycled and transferred through prey/predator relationships.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through an ecosystem, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants. The majority of the chemical energy stored in plants is transformed into other forms by an assortment of consumers, such as cows, rabbits, horses, sheep, caterpillars, and other insects eating plants. Some of the stored chemical energy in a producer such as grass is stored as chemical energy in the fat or protein in the first-order consumers that eat the grass. This energy is available for higher-order consumers. At each stage of a food chain, most of the chemical energy is converted to other forms such as heat and does not remain within the ecosystem."

An example of a food chain is presented in the graphic below. It starts with the Sun providing the energy needed for the producer's photosynthesis. The plant is eaten by an herbivore, which is consumed by a carnivore (and there may be a few carnivores in the chain), and finally, the waste and remains for dead organisms are broken down by decomposers to be put back into the ecosystem.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

The Department of Education and Training for Victoria State in Canada explains in scientific terms how energy is transferred through the food chain when all the necessary organisms are present, "Energy is transferred between organisms in food webs from producers to consumers. The energy is used by organisms to carry out complex tasks. The vast majority of energy that exists in food webs originates from the Sun and is converted (transformed) into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in plants. A small proportion of this chemical energy is transformed directly into heat when compounds are broken down during respiration in plants." Plants (producers) rely on sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. Though herbivores and carnivores do not get their energy directly from the Sun, they still rely on the plants (producers) who do and that energy is passed through the food chain.

Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/ecosystem.aspx#:~:text=Energy%20is%20transferred%20between%20organisms,process%20of%20photosynthesis%20in%20plants.

Each arrow represents the direction energy is flowing. Energy moves to the mushrooms because they are decomposers, and they break down the remains of dead organisms. They distribute waste and nutrients back into the food chain through soil absorption.

Energy is transferred throughout the environment by consuming plants and animals, photosynthesis, and the breaking down of dead organisms. In this environment, a new consumer was introduced - the rabbit. They ate all of the producers (plants) in the area because they are herbivores. The plants could not keep up with their reproduction and were wiped out because of the large rabbit population and the number of plants needed to sustain them. The farmer would have to supplement the rabbits with other plant or plant by-products to keep his rabbit population growing.

The answer choices are correct and list possible problems with introducing a disease into the rabbit population. With 600 million rabbits, it is possible that the decomposers cannot keep up with the number of dead rabbits. If there are too many rabbits dying and the decomposers can't keep up, it could lead to carcasses building up, which can introduce new disease, and it will look and smell bad. Decomposers break down the waste and dead organisms, and they could catch the same illness or become sickly because of eating the sick rabbits. Over time organisms build up immunities to disease, and the condition can mutate. Over time, the infection could spread to other animals or mutate, and new symptoms emerge with the rabbits.

Energy flows to the decomposers as they break down the remains of dead organisms. They distribute waste and nutrients back into the food chain through soil absorption. When the decomposers dispose of a carcass, they are absorbing energy to sustain themselves, but they are also returning it to the Earth for other organisms to use.

Organisms are dependent on each other for a source of energy. Producers rely on the Sun, consumers rely on producers and smaller prey earlier in the chain, and final consumers need weaker animals to feed on. Decomposers rely on the waste and carcasses of dead consumers, and they return nutrients to the soil. Each organism has a role to play, and the others will not survive if one link in the chain goes missing.

The mushrooms represent the decomposer that breaks down waste from animal and plant remains. Multiple arrows point to the mushrooms because they receive energy from all organisms once they have died.