? Energy in ecosystems Flashcards
(12 cards)
what is biomass
the means by which energy is passed between other organisms
what are producers
photosynthetic organisms that manufacture organic substances using light
what are consumers
organisms that obtain their energy by feeding on other organisms
what do primary consumers eat
producers -> directly
what do secondary consumers eat
primary consumers
what do tertiary consumers eat
secondary consumers
what do saprobionts do
break down the complex materials in dead organisms into simple ones
- releases valuable minerals and elements to be absorbed by plants
what is gross primary productivity
the total energy trapped by plants in a given area or volume in a given time
what does net primary productivity =
gross primary production - respiratory losses
what is net primary production
the chemical energy store left after respiration
where is energy lost in transfer
- some organism is not consumed
- some parts cannot be digested so lost in faeces
- lost in excretory materials
- energy losses as heat from respiration
how to calculate the efficiency of energy transfers
