4.1 Flashcards
Biomass
Chemical energy that comes from plants and animals, usually through ingestion for animals and photosynthesis for plants.
Productivity
The amount of energy produced by producers undergoing.
Measured through:
GPP - Gross Primary Production (60% lost from respiration)
NPP - Net Primary Production (40% of GPP)
Efficiency
The amount of energy for the next trophic level. On average. Only 10% of the energy in the current trophic level is available for the next level. (10% Rule).
Photosynthesis
The process in which producers capture sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make glucose and oxygen.
Cellular Respiration
The process in which a cell uses oxygen and glucose to make energy (ATP), water, and carbon dioxide (which is released from the cell unlike the water and ATP).
What type of organisms perform photosynthesis?
Autotrophs
What type of organisms perform cellular respiration?
Autotrophs and heterotrophs
Difference between a pyramid of energy, a pyramid of numbers, and a pyramid of biomass?
A pyramid of energy shows the amount of energy flowing through each trophic level over time
A pyramid of biomass compares the amount of biomass at each trophic level.
A pyramid of numbers shows the number of organisms in that ecosystem at each trophic level.
Plant A has made 3 million kilo-calories.
Species A eats plant A.
Species B eats species B.
How many kilo-calories did species B get from species A?
30,000
Why is it better to eat at a lower trophic level compared to a higher trophic level?
It is better because of the 10% rule, meaning that at higher trophic levels, we need to consume more in order to get enough energy as the higher we are in trophic levels, the less energy we would get. Thus, it is better to try and consume producers as you get much more energy and consume much less.
How does the amount of solar energy in a location relate to productivity?
Because of how producers, on average, only use 1% of the sunlight for photosynthesis, the amount of solar energy can heavily affect productivity.
How does the amount of solar energy in a location relate to biomass?
Because of how producers and productivity are affected by energy, this means that biomass is also affected (like a chain) because of how biomass is affected by productivity since it is essentially the energy income for heterotrophs.
