Energy and Ecosystems Flashcards
what 4 processes is energy needed for?
- condensation reactions
- hydrolysis reactions
- protein synthesis
- active transport
what is the ultimate source of energy?
the sun
how are primary producers involved in energy transfer?
harvest light energy to transfer it into chemical energy in the form of glucose by photosynthesis
autotrophs
organisms that are self feedng - can synthesise their own organic compounds
what can happen to glucose in during energy transfer? (3)
- layed down as biomass
- lost through respiration
- lost as faeces and urine
how is energy available to the next trophic level?
as biomass layed down in previous level
what types of energy are removed from the system by RS and in DOM?
- RS - heat energy
- DOM - chemical energy
photosynthetic efficiency
meausre of how much light energy a plant can convert into chemical energy
5 reasons not all light is photosynthesised
- some doesnt hit chlorophyll molecules
- some reflcted by waxy cuticle
- might be wrong wavelength for PS so reflected
- water absorbs light energy so evaporates
- low CO2 levels in atmosphere limits PS so limits light absorption
2 ways to measure biomass
- mass of carbon per given area per given time
- mass of dry tissue per given area per given time
GPP (gross primary production)
total quantity of chemical energy store in plant biomass in given area/vol in given time
NPP (net primary production)
chemical energy store left after respiration losses accounted for
equation of NPP
NPP = GPP - R
equation of net productivity of consumers
N = I - (F + R)
what is N
net productivity of consumers
