3.4.5 - Energy Transfer Flashcards
Consumer definition
An animal that eats other organisms
Herbivore definition
A consumer that eats plants
Carnivore definition
A consumer that eats other animals
Top carnivore definition
A consumer at the top of a food chain, with no predators
Omnivore definition
A consumer that eats plants/ animals
Autotroph definition and example
An organism that manufactures its own food
E.G. Plants
Heterotroph definition
An organism that obtains energy and mass from other organisms
Predator definition
An animal that hunts and kills animals for food
Prey definition
An animal that is hunted and killed for food
Scavenger definition
An animal that eats dead animals, but doesn’t kill them
Detritus definition
Dead and waste matter not eaten by consumers
Decomposers definition
Organisms that break down complex materials to simple components after producers/ consumers die
When decomposing, release materials absorbed by plants (nitrogen/ CO2)
Saprobiotic bacteria definition
A microorganism that lives on the detritus and decomposes it
Parasite definition
An organism that feeds on a larger host organism, harming it
Pathogen definition
A microorganism that causes disease
How much energy is passes through eat tropic level?
10% of the energy from the previous organism. This is passed on through the energy used for growth
How is energy lost from the sun –> plants
Over 90% is reflected back to space/ absorbed into atmosphere
The light energy might not hit the plant, chloroplasts, or chlorophyll
Might be the wrong wavelength of light
Other limiting factors (CO2 concentration) could reduce photosynthesis
Energy losses within trophic levels (consumers)
Lost through excretion E.G. Urine
Lost through heat E.G. Mammals and birds need to thermoregulate, requiring lots of energy
Some of the animal isn’t eaten, or can’t be digested
Producer definition
An organism that produces food from oxygen and water using photosynthesis
Net production =
Gross production - respiratory losses
Energy transfer equation?
Energy transfer = Energy available after transfer
——————————– x100
Energy available before transfer
Units for energy transfer?
KJ m^-2 year^-1
Net production =
Gross production - respiratory losses
Energy transfer equation?
Energy transfer = Energy available after transfer
——————————– x100
Energy available before transfer
