*ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

DEFINITION
Ecological successionis the observed
process of change in the species
structure of anecologicalcommunity
over time. The time scale can be
decades (for example, after a wildfire),
or even millions of years after a mass
extinction.
Energy Flow In EcoSystem
 Energy And
Energy Flow

Energy is a property of objects which can

be transferred to other objects or converted into
different forms, but cannot be created or destroyed.

Energy flow, also called the calorific flow, refers to the

flow of energy through a food chain. (producers to top
cnsumers)
 UNIVERSAL ENERGY FLOW
MODEL
500 units

Producer
(100 units)
As the flow of energy
takes place, there is
Herbivorous
gradual loss of
(20 units)
energy at each level

Carnivorous
(2 units)

Decomposer
(0.2 units)
Where does the remaining energy go??
 Double or Y
Channel Energy Flow
 Conclusions
The important point in Y-shaped model is that the two food chains are not
isolated from each other. This Y- shaped model is more realistic and practical
working model than the single-channel model because,

(i) it confirms to stratified structure of ecosystems,

(ii) it separates the grazing and detritus chains (direct consumption of living
plants and utilization of dead organic matter respectively) in both time and
space, and

(iii) that the micro-consumers (absorptive bacteria, fungi) and the macro-
consumers (phagotrophic animals) differ greatly size-metabolism relations.
Single Channel Energy Flow
 Conclusions
From the energy flow diagram two things become
clear.

1)Firstly, there is one-way street along which energy

moves (unidirectional flow of energy). The energy that
is captured by the autotrophs does not revert back to
solar input; that which passes to the herbivores does
not pass back to the autotrophs.

As it moves progressively through the various trophic

levels it is no longer available to the previous level.
Thus due to one-way flow of energy, the system would
collapse if the primary source, the sun, were cut off.

2)Secondly, there occurs a progressive decrease in

*Energy and Biomass
Pyramids
Kaneohe Bay

Tertiary 10 J
consumers

Secondary 100 J
consumers

Primary
consumers 1000 J

Primary 10,000 J Limu

producers

1,000,000 J of sunlight
Energy Use By An Herbivore

Algae
eaten by
Uhu

Cellular
Feces
Respiration

Growth
Energy Flow in Marine Food chain
and Food web
Comparison Of Energy Flow in Food Chain
and Food Web
Competitive relationships in food webs can reduce
productivity at top levels
Phytoplankton
(100 units) Phytoplankton
(100 units)

Herbivorous
Zooplankton Herbivorous
(20 units) Zooplankton
(20 units)
Carnivorous
Zooplankton A Carnivorous Carnivorous
(2 units) Zooplankton A Zooplankton B
(1 units) (1 units)
Fish (0.2 units)
Fish (0.1 units)
Unidirectional energy
Bidirectional energy Flow