energy transfer and nutrient cycles Flashcards
(22 cards)
How do plants make organic compounds
Photosynthesis. They use sunlight to synthesise organic compounds from atmospheric or aquatic or carbon dioxide and water
What happens to the sugars produced in photosynthesis
Respiration
Make of the biological molecules such as proteins and lipids equals biomass
Define biomass
The measure of the mass of carbon dry mass in biological/living tissue per given area
What is meant by dry mass
Measure of the biomass of an organism without water
Piece of equipment can be used to estimate stored chemical energy in organism
calorimeter
What is meant by Gross primary production (GPP)
The total amount of chemical energy stored in the biomass of a pain in the area and volume
In France what type of energy is lost of the environment and have
During respiration some energy is lost to the environment is heat energy this is referred to as the respiratory loss (capital are)
What is meant by the net for me production and how is it calculated
Calculated by NPP=GPP-R
How is 90% of the energy in a consume the loss of the environment
Consume not completely consumed
Some parts are not digested they are lost as faces
Lost his excretory material such as urine
Heat loss through respiration
How is the net production of a consumer calculated
N = I-F+R N equals net production of consumers I equals energy stored in ingested food F equals energy lost three faces R = respiratory losses
What’s your food chain/webs show us
Have energy store there an ecosystem
State three farming practices that help maximise productivity
1.predators are excluded so no loss of energy to other organisms
To.movement is restricted this reduces respiration
3.to keep livestock warm, this reduces respiration
What is a saprobiont and what is its role
Fungo or bacteria also known as decomposes they break down complex molecules and dead organisms into simpler compounds which can be recycled back into the environment
State the four main stages of the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification
What is nitrogen fixation and what microbes are involved
Nitrogen gas is converted into nitrogen containing compounds. The microbes involved are free-living bacteria, and mutualistic bacteria in root nodules
What is anmonidication and what microbes are involved
The production of ammonia from organic nitrogen containing compounds the microbes involved of bacteria and fundi
What is nitrification and what microbes are involved
Conversion of ammonium ions into nitrate ions
Free-living soil bacteria
What is denitrification and what microbes are involved
Soil nitrates are converted into gaseous nitrogen
Anaerobic bacteria
What is one fundamental difference of the phosphorus compared to the carbon and nitrogen cycle
There is no Gaseous stage involved in the phosphorus cycle. Most phosphate exists in the form of phosphate ions PO43 minus
What is the main purpose of using natural and artificial fertiliser
To replace/maintain a central mineral ions in the soil so they Become a limiting factor to plant growth
What is meant by leaching
The process by which water soluble fertiliser/chemicals get washed out of the soil by rainfall into streams and rivers
Summarise what happens in eutrophication
– There is an increase in the nutrient concentration of water area such as freshwater lakes due to leaking
– increase in nutrients equals increase growth of algae equals algal bloom on surface of water
This layer courses like to become a limiting factor for the plant growth below the surface which will eventually die
– this causes an increase growth of anaerobic bacteria and they have to feed on the dead plant material
– overtime there is a shortage of O2 which and then turn causes the death of all aerobic organisms including the fish
– en route bacteria nice starting to decompose in a dead animal/property resulting in more nutrients entering the lake and making the water putrid
