chap 13: organsims & their environment

Question 1

apart from the 10% of energy that is passed to the next tropic level how is the other 90% lost?

Answer 1

to the surrounding by heat and metabolic waste products
makes up hair, fur, bones etc

Question 2

what are limitations to using pyramid of numbers

Answer 2

does not consider the size and mass of organisms
does not consider the age of the organism

Question 3

what are limitations to using pyramid of biomass

Answer 3

organisms have to be killed to obtain biomass
it has to be constructed at a particular point in time

Question 4

what are limitations to using pyramid of biomass

Answer 4

organisms have to be killed to obtain biomass
it has to be constructed at a particular point in time

Question 5

importance of a carbon cycle

Answer 5

ensures that there is a continuous supply of carbon dioxide for plats to carry out photosynthesis
enables energy to flow through the ecosystem
regulates the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Question 6

what is a carbon sunk

Answer 6

a carbon sink stores more carbon than it gives out and it stores the carbon from the atmosphere for a long period of time

Question 7

describe the ocean as a carbon sink

Answer 7

the ocean stores more carbon that it releases. aquatic plants give out carbon dioxide when they carry out photosynthesis