2.3 Flows of energy and matter Flashcards
when solar radiation (insolation) enters our atmosphere, wha are the two things that can happen to it?
it can absorb or reflect.
what is the relationship between ecosystems and reflected solar radiation?
the reflected solar radiation is completely unavailable to the ecosystem.
what is another word for reflected?
Albido
what is the relationship between absorbed solar radiation and an ecosystem?
only some solar radiation is available to an ecosystems as some gets absorbed by inorganic matter.
can you give an example of inorganic matter?
concreate
what are three different ways solar radiation can be reflected?
reflected by scatter
reflected by clouds
reflected by ground.
what are three different ways solar radiation can be absorbed?
absorption by molecules and dust
absorption through clouds
absorption through ground.
when solar energy is absorbed into an ecosystem there are four ‘pathways’ that could happen to it, could you list them?
conversion of light energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis.
transfer of chemical energy from one trophic level to anything with varying efficiencies.
overall conversion of ultraviolet and visible light to heat energy by an ecosystem.
re-radiaiton of heat energy to the atmosphere.
what is productivity a measure for?
the conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time. (gaining of weight basically)
how do we measure Net primary productivity?
Net primary productivity is measure as
Gross primary productivity- respiratory loss
what is primary productivity?
the rate at which solar energy is converted to PLANT biomass. It is done by AUTOTROPHS
what is secondary productivity?
the rate at which consumers (heterotrophs) cover chemical energy into their own biomass.
what is a term sometimes used instead of secondary productivity?
assimilation
what is the link between sustainable yield and productivity?
Maximum sustainable yields are equivalent to the net primary or net secondary productivity of a system.
what is the equation of efficiency?
(original-new)
——————- x 100
original
how do you calculate gross secondary productivity?
gross secondary productivity=
food eaten- feral loss
what is gross secondary productivity?
it is the total energy or biomass assimilated by consumers and is calculated by substrating the mass of feral loss from the mass of food consumed.
how do you calculate net secondary productivity?
nett secondary productivity= grosss secondary productivity- respiratory loss.
what is the definition for maximum sustainable yield?
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is the largest crop/catch that can be taken from the stock of a species without depleting the stock
what happens when matter flows through ecosystems?
it links them together?
can you give two examples where matter flows through ecosystems and how this is demonstrated?
the nitrogen and carbon cycle illustrate the flow of matter between ecosystems using a flow diagram.
what two parts make up a flow digram, and what doe they show?
sinks and flows, they show where the element can be found.
what is the role of a flow?
moves matter between sinks.
an you give examples of a sink in the carbon cycle?
organisms and forests (both organic) or the atmosphere, soil, fossil fuels and oceans (non organic)
can you give examples of flows in the carbon cycle?
consumption, death and decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, dissolving and focialstion.
can you give examples of sinks in the nitrogen cycle?
organisms, soil, fossil fuels atmosphere and waterbodies
can you give examples of flows in the nitrogen cycle?
nitrogen fixation by bacteria, lighting, absorption, assimilation, consumption, death and decomposition, and denitrification by bacteria in waterlogged soils.
can you list human activities that impact energy flows s well as the carbon and nitrogen cycle?
urbanisation, during of fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture.
what is the impact of urbanisation on the carbon cycle?
stores such as vegetation are covered up, congestion caused by unappropiratly manages cities burins hight rates of fossil fuels into the atmosphere.
what is the impact of deforestation on the carbon cycle?
distraction on vegetation stores leads to less flows of energy such as photosynthesis, feeding, death and fossilisation.
what is the impact of agreculture on the carbon cycle?
Carbon dioxide is emitted by farm equipment moving across the farm’s fields during tilling, planting, the application of pesticides and fertilizers and harvest. The more passes across the farm field, the more carbon that is emitted. Controlled consumption of autotrouphs by carnivores effects the natural flow pattern.
