What do Energy Pyramids tell us

1
What do Energy Pyramids tell us?
The importance of the Spotted Owl
2
Ecologists study energy pyramids
Energy Pyramids show the flow of energy
through an ecosystem
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An energy pyramid from the Andrews
1 Kcal
3rd level consumers mostly carnivores
some omnivores
10 Kcal
2nd level consumer carnivores omnivores
100 Kcal
1st level consumer herbivores
1000 Kcal
Producers green plants make their own energy
from sunlight
10,000 Kcal
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When an owl eats a flying squirrel it uses
about 90 of the calories to live
move, digest, produce body heat,
reproduce and escape from predators.
When a frog eats a cricket
or a cricket eats a plant, they
use 90 of those calories
to move, digest, produce body
heat, reproduce and escape from
predators.
0.01
1 Kcal
0.1
10 Kcal
1
100 Kcal
1000 Kcal
10
100
10,000 Kcal
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Spotted Owls are 3rd level consumers
Spotted Owls need a largehome range. Home
range is the name ecologists give the amount of
living area animals need to hunt enough prey to
survive. You can tell how healthy an ecosystem is
by the number of 3rd level consumers living
there. If there is not enough energy (prey) in
Red Tree Vole
Flying Squirrels are about half the owls diet
Snow Shoe Hare
Brush Rabbit
Bushy tailed wood rat
Deer Mouse
an ecosystem the area wont be able to support
3rd level consumers.
Red-backed voles
Chipmunk
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Spotted Owls mate for life. They live about 10
years. Mating pairs usually return to the same
nest every summer to raise their young. When
winter comes, the young leave the nest and mating
pairs separate to find their own home range
because prey is scarce.
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Young Spotted Owls are born in nests at the top
of tall snags.
They become fledglings when they are old enough
to leave the nest and fly
around the nest area.
After two months the fledglings leave home and
find their own mate and home range.
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Spotted Owl predators and competitors include the
Northern Goshawk and the Great Horned Owl and The
Barred Owl. These birds attack Spotted Owls,
prey on their young, compete for prey and try to
drive them out of their home range.
Northern Goshawk
Barred Owls
Great Horned Owl