13.2 energy transfer & productivity Flashcards
1
Q
how are energy lost when sunlight is transferred to plants? (4)
A
- reflected back into space by clouds / absorbed by atmosphere
- not all wavelengths of light could be used
- light doesn’t fall on chlorophyll molecule
- abiotic factors (eg. low CO2 levels)
2
Q
how are energy lost from a tropic level to another? (3)
A
- parts of organisms not consumed / digested
- lost as excretory products / faeces
- lost as heat from respiration
3
Q
what is net primary production?
A
total energy available for growth, reproduction & other tropic levels
4
Q
how is net primary production calculated?
A
gross primary production - respiratory losses
