4.1 Energy Transfer

Question 1

How does the sun transfer energy to producers?

Answer 1

through photosynthesis (measured in productivity)

Question 2

What components make up photosynthesis?

Answer 2

sunlight + carbon dioxide + water = glucose + oxygen

Question 3

What components make up cellular respiration?

Answer 3

glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + energy

Question 4

As cells go through cellular respiration, what products are produced? And how are they released from the body?

Answer 4

carbon dioxide: respiration
energy: heat
water: sweat/urine

Question 5

What is the main way of measuring energy in living things?

Answer 5

biomass

Question 6

True or False?
Each trophic level can only give 10% of its energy to the next level.

Answer 6

True (inefficiency of energy transfer)

Question 7

What is the difference between the pyramid of biomass and the pyramid of energy?

Answer 7

The pyramid of biomass measures the amount of living matter at each trophic level. Meanwhile, the pyramid of energy represents the flow of energy between trophic levels. But we can see a similar pyramid shape, because the more biomass, the more energy that can be stored.

Question 8

What does the pyramid of numbers represent?

Answer 8

population size

Question 9

True or False?
The pyramid of numbers follows the same shape as the pyramid of biomass and energy.

Answer 9

False.
The pyramid of numbers depends on the species found at different trophic levels. Be sure to notice the size of the organism at each trophic level. Even though there is less energy passing on, there could still be more of that organism because it is smaller.

Question 10

True or False?
Photosynthesis converts chemical energy to light energy.

Answer 10

False
Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy.