B2.2 photosynthesis and thermodynamics and productivity Flashcards
word equation for photosynthesis
carbon dioxide + water –> glucose + oxygen
word equation for aerobic resipration
glucose + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water
autotrophs
organisms that produce their own energy.
heterophs
an organism that cannot produce its own food. primary, secondary or tertiary consumer
What sustains ecosystems in terms of energy and matter?
Ecosystems are sustained by supplies of energy and matter, as they are open systems in which energy and matter are exchanged.
What does the first law of thermodynamics state about energy in ecosystems?
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be transformed from one form to another but cannot be created or destroyed as it flows through ecosystems.
What are examples of energy transformations in ecosystems?
Energy transformations include light energy converting to chemical energy and chemical energy converting to heat.
What is the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in ecosystems?
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration transform energy and matter in ecosystems through chemical reactions and energy transformations.
What is photosynthesis, and what does it produce?
Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which can be stored as biomass by autotrophs.
What are producers, and what role do they play in a food chain?
Producers, such as plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, form the first trophic level in a food chain by producing their own food using photosynthesis.
What does cellular respiration do?
Cellular respiration releases energy from glucose, converting it into a chemical form that can easily be used for active processes in living cells.
Why is heat generated during cellular respiration?
Heat is generated because cellular respiration is not 100% efficient at transferring energy from substrates like carbohydrates into usable chemical energy.
What does the second law of thermodynamics state about energy transformations?
The second law of thermodynamics states that energy transformations are inefficient, with some energy always degraded into a less useful form, like heat.
Why are energy transfers in ecosystems never 100% efficient?
Energy transfers are never 100% efficient because of energy losses, particularly during cellular respiration, as explained by the second law of thermodynamics.
Gross productivity (GP)
the total gain in biomass by an organism.
