B1.5 Energy In Biomass

Question 1

Define biomass

Answer 1

The dry mass of living material in an animal or plant measured in grams

Question 2

Draw a food chain which has the secondary consumer as a fox.

Answer 2

Grass->rabbit->fox

Question 3

Define producer

Answer 3

Green plants - make food by photosynthesis

Question 4

Define primary consumer

Answer 4

Usually eat plant material - they are herbivores

Question 5

Define secondary consumer

Answer 5

Usually eat animal material - carnivores

Question 6

Define predator

Answer 6

Kill for food. Either secondary or tertiary consumers

Question 7

Define prey

Answer 7

The animals that predators feed on

Question 8

Define scavengers

Answer 8

Feed on dead animals eg. Hyenas

Question 9

Define decomposers

Answer 9

Feed on dead and decaying organisms and in undigested parts of plant and animal matter in faeces

Question 10

How is some energy wasted as it passes each stage in a pyramid of biomass?

Answer 10

Respiration
Movement
Control body temperature
Growth

Question 11

What’s the process of decay?

Answer 11

Decomposers can be bacteria and fungi. Detritus feeders start the process of decay. They eat dead animals so they can grow. The waste products are carbon dioxide, water and nutrients.

Question 12

What are the best conditions for decay?

Answer 12

Warm
Moist
Lots of oxygen

Question 13

Why is decay important?

Answer 13

In sewage treatment, the microorganisms break down the bodily waste we produce. Useful in compost heaps and it means waste can be broken down.

Question 14

What’s the carbon cycle?

Answer 14

Constantly, a relatively small amount of available carbon is cycled between living things and the environment
The main processes involved are respiration, photosynthesis, combustion, feeding and death.

Question 15

What is a detritus feeder and give an example.

Answer 15

An organism that feed on dead plant or animal matter. Eg. Earth worms, woodlice and millipedes.

Question 16

Where are large amounts of carbon found on earth?

Answer 16

Fossil fuels
Limestone
Atmosphere
Oceans

Question 17

Why is the carbon cycle important?

Answer 17

It ensures that carbon is evenly distributed between the atmosphere and organisms. If too much co2 was in the atmosphere them global warming would be extreme.

Question 18

What are the three fossil fuels?

Answer 18

Coal
Wood
Oil

Question 19

What are the benefits of making compost?

Answer 19

Helps soil retain water and nutrients. 
Roots can spread out
Prevents spreading of disease in soil
Compost can hold nutrients tightly
Makes soil easier to work with

Question 20

How do compost heaps work?

Answer 20

Microbes, worms, snails, insects and fungi decompose organic material aerobically. Bacteria are the powerhouse of s compost heap. They break down plant matter and create carbon dioxide and heat.

Question 21

How do we recycle organic waste?

Answer 21

Compost heap
Compost bin
Council composting
Sewage treatment plants

Question 22

What’s a sankey diagram?

Answer 22

A type of graph with arrow shapes which shows total energy taken in and how it is transferred.

Question 23

Why do we normally eat herbivores rather than carnivores?

Answer 23

There are less stages in the food chain. Eating plants is the most efficient way of feeding the world population, but if we want meat less energy is wasted your eating herbivores.

Question 24

What does organic waste mean?

Answer 24

Waste from living organisms containing carbon compounds (such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins).