Energy flows and food chains Flashcards
(14 cards)
Define energy flow
the flow of energy through living things within an ecosystem
source of energy drives ecosystems ?
Sun
Where are most productive ecosystems located?
Equator (receive most sun and therefore have highest levels of biomass)
Define biomass
a measure of mass of every living organism- including plants
Describe photosynthesis
primary producers (such as plants and algae) convert light energy to chemical energy, which is stored within biological molecules
What is net primary productivity?
rate at which energy is stored in plant biomass, allowing for respiratory losses
How does net primary productivity relate to the food chain?
It represents the energy that is available to organisms at higher trophic levels in the ecosystem, such as primary consumers and decomposers
Each level of the food chain passes on how much energy to the next level?
about 10% of energy it consumes to next trophic level
energy is lost to atmosphere at each level of the food chain through?
Heat energy
Why are there less tertiary consumers compared to primary?
○ At each level, significant amounts of nutrients and energy are lost- results in smaller number of tertiary consumers compared to primary
○ Energy is lost as animals consume energy in search of food and in production of heat during plant growth
At which level of the food chain is there the most biomass?
Bottom
How is the food chain related to the carbon cycle?
○ Animals get their carbon by eating plants or other animals.
○ Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere through respiration by animals, plants and micro organisms
What is respiration?
The chemical change that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy that organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of respiration.
What are 4 trophic levels?
- Primary producers
- Primary consumers (herbivores)
- Secondary consumers (carnivores)
- Tertiary consumers (carnivores that eat secondary consumers)
