B21 Energy flow in ecosystems Flashcards
the principal source of energy input to biological systems
the sun
food chain
a chart showing the flow of energy from one organism to the next beginning with a producer
food web
a network of interconnected food chains showing the energy flow through part of an ecosystem
producer
an organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight, through photosynthesis
consumer
organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms
herbivore
an animal that gets its energy by eating plants
carnivore
an animal that gets its energy y eating other animals
decomposer
an organism that gets its energy from dead or waste organic matter. they excrete enzymes onto the material and consume it. They help assist in decay
ecosystem
a unit containing all of the organisms and their environment interacting together, in a given area
trophic level
the position of an organism in a food chain or food web
why is not all energy passed on from one trophic level to the next?
1) not all material can be digested by the consumer/ not all is consumed
2) part of the biomass is used in respiration, movement etc
3) much energy is lost as heat
examples of decomposers
bacteria, fungi
detrivores
they digest dead/ waste matter internally and assist in decay by breaking it up into smaller pieces/ increasing surface area
Detrivore examples
worms, beetles, termites
conditions for fast decomposition and nutrient cycling
1) moist environment
2) oxygen
3) warmth