B17 - Organising an ecosystem Flashcards
photosynthetic organisms
-producers of biomass for life on Earth
food chain
producers at the start
-mostly always green
primary consumers
eat producers
secondary consumers
eat primary consumers
producers
synthesises new molecules
stable environment
- prey and predator number fluctuates in cycles
decomposers
group of micro organisms that feed on waste droppings and dead organisms
decomposers eg
fungi
bacteria
Detritivores
start process of decay
-eat dead animals and produce waste
-then bacteria digests everything including detritivores
detritivores eg
maggots
worms
the decay cycle
returns carbon to atmosphere as co2
-used by plants then
water cycle
- provides fresh water for animals/plants before draining into sea
-evaporates + condenses as it rises to form clouds
photosynthesis
-remove co2 from atmosphere
-use carbon from co2 to make carbohydrates, proteins (biomass)
- passed on through food chain
Respiration
-co2 waste product
-released as decomposers respire
combustion
burning fossil fuels
= co2`
conditions for decay
-temp
-moisture
- o2
use of decay
- farmers: for compost = natural fertiliser
bacteria respire anaerobically use
-releases methane
- waste is put in biogas generators
- with anaerobic conditions
- methane is produced + used as fuel
conditions for decay - temp
- warm = faster
- cold = slower
- too hot = enzymes in decomposers denature
conditions for decay - moisture
easier to digest food
- prevents them from drying out
conditions for decay - o2
to allow decomposers to respire
