Biosphere: (How Energy Is Transferred In The Biosphere)

Question 1

Autotrophs:

Answer 1

-photosynthetic/chemosynthetic organisms.
-capable of producing their own food.
-a.k.a. producers.
•eg. ferns, algae, spruce, tree, grass.

Question 2

Chemosynthesis:

Answer 2

•chemosynthesis: the process where energy from chemical nutrients is converted into useful energy (carbohydrates) in the absence of sunlight.
•small number of bacteria and blue-green algae are capable of obtaining energy from breakdown of inorganic substances such as sulfur.
•usually located in deep-sea vent communities where sunlight does not reach.

Question 3

Heterotrophs:

Answer 3

-organisms incapable of photosynthesis.
-obtain food and energy from autotrophs/other heterotrophs.
-a.k.a. Consumers.
•eg. deer, fox, hawk, human.

Question 4

Decomposers:

Answer 4

-special group of heterotrophs that break down wastes or detritus (dead matter).
•eg. Certain types of fungi, bacteria, earthworms, insects.

Question 5

What is detritus?

Answer 5

Dead matter.

Question 6

A closer look at consumers:

Answer 6

-consumers may be classified in further detail:
-herbivores: feeds on plants.
-carnivores: feeds on animals.
-omnivores: feeds on plants and animals.

Question 7

Feeding relationships:

Answer 7

•depending on their feeding relationships, consumers may ALSO be classified as:
•primary consumers: obtain energy/nutrients from plants.
•secondary consumers: feeding on primary consumer.
•tertiary consumers: feeds on secondary consumers.

Question 8

Trophic levels:

Answer 8

•trophic levels: describe feeding relationships in ecosystems where energy and matter are transferred.
•producers are the 1st feeding level and therefore = 1st trophic level.
•primary consumers = 2nd trophic level.
•secondary consumers = 3rd trophic level.
•tertiary consumers = 4th trophic level.
•quaternary consumers = 5th trophic level.
•decomposers can feed at any trophic level.

Question 9

Rule of 10:

Answer 9

•how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to another?
•5-20% of energy from one trophic level transferred to the next.
•for convenience, scientists use rule of 10–> saying only 10% of energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next.

Question 10

How energy is transferred:*

Answer 10

•bacteria dwell within the tissues of tube worms that live on and near the black smokers.
•these micro-organisms are able to split the hydrogen sulfide molecules spewing from the deep-sea vents.
•the bacteria then captures the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the molecules.
•unlike photosynthesis which produces oxygen, sulfuric acid is produced as a by-product of this process.