3.4.5 - Energy Transfer

Question 1

Consumer definition

Answer 1

An animal that eats other organisms

Question 2

Herbivore definition

Answer 2

A consumer that eats plants

Question 3

Carnivore definition

Answer 3

A consumer that eats other animals

Question 4

Top carnivore definition

Answer 4

A consumer at the top of a food chain, with no predators

Question 5

Omnivore definition

Answer 5

A consumer that eats plants/ animals

Question 6

Autotroph definition and example

Answer 6

An organism that manufactures its own food

E.G. Plants

Question 7

Heterotroph definition

Answer 7

An organism that obtains energy and mass from other organisms

Question 8

Predator definition

Answer 8

An animal that hunts and kills animals for food

Question 9

Prey definition

Answer 9

An animal that is hunted and killed for food

Question 10

Scavenger definition

Answer 10

An animal that eats dead animals, but doesn’t kill them

Question 11

Detritus definition

Answer 11

Dead and waste matter not eaten by consumers

Question 12

Decomposers definition

Answer 12

Organisms that break down complex materials to simple components after producers/ consumers die
When decomposing, release materials absorbed by plants (nitrogen/ CO2)

Question 13

Saprobiotic bacteria definition

Answer 13

A microorganism that lives on the detritus and decomposes it

Question 14

Parasite definition

Answer 14

An organism that feeds on a larger host organism, harming it

Question 15

Pathogen definition

Answer 15

A microorganism that causes disease

Question 16

How much energy is passes through eat tropic level?

Answer 16

10% of the energy from the previous organism. This is passed on through the energy used for growth

Question 17

How is energy lost from the sun –> plants

Answer 17

Over 90% is reflected back to space/ absorbed into atmosphere
The light energy might not hit the plant, chloroplasts, or chlorophyll
Might be the wrong wavelength of light
Other limiting factors (CO2 concentration) could reduce photosynthesis

Question 18

Energy losses within trophic levels (consumers)

Answer 18

Lost through excretion E.G. Urine
Lost through heat E.G. Mammals and birds need to thermoregulate, requiring lots of energy
Some of the animal isn’t eaten, or can’t be digested

Question 19

Producer definition

Answer 19

An organism that produces food from oxygen and water using photosynthesis

Question 20

Net production =

Answer 20

Gross production - respiratory losses

Question 21

Energy transfer equation?

Answer 21

Energy transfer = Energy available after transfer
——————————– x100
Energy available before transfer

Question 22

Units for energy transfer?

Answer 22

KJ m^-2 year^-1

Question 23

Net production =

Answer 23

Gross production - respiratory losses

Question 24

Energy transfer equation?

Answer 24

Energy transfer = Energy available after transfer
——————————– x100
Energy available before transfer

Question 25

Units for energy transfer?

Answer 25

KJ m^-2 year^-1

Question 26

Pyramids of number

Answer 26

No account of size is given
Sometimes isn’t pyramid shape
Impossible to represent to accurate scale if number of individuals is so large

Question 27

Pyramids of energy

Answer 27

Most accurate, but collecting data is difficult and complex

Always pyramid shape

Question 28

Biomass definition?

Answer 28

Total mass of plants/ animals in particular space

Question 29

Why use dry biomass?

Answer 29

More accurate (animals may have different volume of water inside them) so can't compare
But have to kill organism, so usually small sample