Enegy Transfer

Question 1

How does the amount of energy and biomass change as you go up a stage in a food chain?

Answer 1

There is less energy and less biomass every time you move up

Question 2

What is the source of energy for nearly all life on earth?

Answer 2

the sun

Question 3

What are the two ways the efficiency can be improved?

Answer 3

reducing the number of stages in the food chain

restricting the energy lost by farm animals

Question 4

Give 3 arguments against factory farming

Answer 4

1) Some people think that forcing animals to live in unnatural and uncomfortable conditions is cruel. There’s a growing demand for organic meat.
2) The crowded conditions on factory farms create a favourable environment for the spread of diseases
3) The animals need to be kept warm to reduce the energy they lose as heat. This often means using power from fossil fuels

Question 5

Why are fish stocks declining?

Answer 5

Because we’re fishing so much

Question 6

What are the two ways fish stocks can be maintained?

Answer 6

Fishing quotas

Net size

Question 7

Describe how fishing quotas help to conserve fish stocks

Answer 7

There are limits on the number and size of fish that can be caught in certain areas. This prevents certain species from being overfished.

Question 8

Describe how net size helps to conserve fish stocks

Answer 8

There are different limits of the mesh size of the net, depending on what’s being fished. This is to reduce the number of ‘unwanted’ and discarded fish - the ones accidentally caught. It also means younger fish will slip through the net, allowing them to reach breeding age

Question 9

How are plants (only) involved in the carbon cycle?

Answer 9

• CO2 is removed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis

- When they respire some carbon is returned to the atmosphere

Question 10

How are animals (only) involved in the carbon cycle?

Answer 10

• when animals respire, some carbon is returned to the atmosphere
• animals produce waste that is broken down by detritus feeders and microorganisms

Question 11

How are plants and animals together involved in the carbon cycle?

Answer 11

• When the plants are eaten by animals, some carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins in their bodies. The carbon then moves through the food chain
• When plants & animals die, detritus feeders and microorgansims feed on their remains. When these organisms respire, CO2 is returned to the atmosphere

Question 12

How is wood involved in the carbon cycle?

Answer 12

The combustion of wood and fossil fuels releases CO2 back into the air