B7 Page 10 Flashcards
Give examples of things on the ecosystem that form a closed loop.
1) Oxygen is a waste product produced by plants during photosynthesis, it’s used by plants and animals and microorganisms as a reactant during respiration.
2) Carbon dioxide is a waste product produced during respiration, it is used by plants for photosynthesis.
3) Dead organic matters used by microorganisms as food
4) Mineral nutrients are produced by microorganisms when their digestive enzymes break down organic matter. These nutrient are absorbed and used by plants.
5) Many organisms like disband plants, produce large quantities of reproductive structures. They have to do this because most of the structures won’t grow into adults, the ones that don’t are recycled in the ecosystem.
What is a perfect closed loop system?
All the outputs from processes or stores within the system are recycled- they’re used as inputs to other processes or stores in the system.
Why is no ecosystem a perfect closed loop system?
Because some outputs are always lost like some dead organic matter and nutrients can be carried out of an ecosystem by air or water, some organisms migrate.
What happens in stable ecosystem?
The outputs are balanced by gains. For examples a lot of water is lost form a rainforest ecosystem as it flows out through rivers, but this output is balanced by the gain of water from the high level of rainfall in the ecosystem.
How are large amounts of vegetation beneficial to an ecosystem?
- reduces soil erosion like leaves protect soil from direct rainfall( which can break up soil) and roots help bind the soil together.
- it prevents extreme of temperatures
- it promotes cloud formation.
