Chapter 1 Flashcards
(39 cards)
How does energy enter the biosphere?
Energy enters through photosynthesis
The energy produced in photosynthesis is then converted to cellular respiration to ATP by ALL living organisms
Cellular respiration formula
C6H12O6 + 6O2 –> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
Photosynthesis Formula
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
Consumers
Also known as heterotrophs
They are organisms that need to obtain energy from other organisms
Fermentation
The energy releasing process for a small number of species (usually bacteria) that live in anaerobic environments
Anaerobic
Without oxygen
Aerobic
With oxygen
Producers
Also known as autotrophs
They are organisms that are able to create their own food and energy
The sun
Most of the sun’s energy does not reach the earth. only 1-2% are captured by producers while is reflected or absorbed
Outcomes of sun’s energy
about 30% is reflected from clouds, particles in the atmosphere, or from the land or ocean surface back into space
about 19% is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere
about 51% warms the planet’s surface
Albedo
refers to the amount of energy that is reflected from a surface.
High Albedo
Light-coloured, reflective surfaces or thick clouds return a large part of the sun’s rays back to the atmosphere
Low Albedo
Dark surfaces like treetops and water absorb the rays from the sun
Photosynthetic producers
capture the Sun’s energy and convert it to chemical energy (glucose).
Chemosynthetic producers
capture the chemical energy stored in chemical bonds and convert it to chemical energy (glucose).
How can organisms be identified
- how they obtain their food and the kind of food they eat (producers, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers)
- type of food-maker or food consumer(producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers)
- TROPHIC LEVEL - the feeding level through which energy or matter travels. The FIRST Trophic level is always producers.
Consumers
eat other organisms for energy.
Primary consumers
eat autotrophs.
Secondary and Tertiary consumers
eat other heterotrophs.
Decomposers
consume dead organic material (and feed on ALL trophic levels)
Food Chains
shows the linear pathway through which energy is transferred from producers to primary consumers and to progressively higher feeding levels
Trophic levels are easily identified on a food chain
Food Web
shows a more realistic picture of how energy transfer occurs and includes many interrelated food chains.
Laws of Thermodynamics
“energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another”(law 1)
“No energy transformation is completely efficient, much of it is lost as heat.” (law 2)
How much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
Only part of the available energy from one trophic level can be transferred to the next.
