Energy Exchange Flashcards
Autotrophs
producers- plants that convert sunlight energy into food
Heterotrophs
consumers-organisms that fed on other organisms
Trophic levels
category that defines how living things gain energy for life processes
1st- producer
2nd- primary consumer
3rd- secondary consumer
4th- tertiary consumer
5th- Quaternary consumer
photosynthesis
producers capture solar energy and convert it into food
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight = C6H12O6 + 6O2
cellular respiration
breaks down glucose into carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy
C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + 36 ATP
chemosynthesis
food that is made by bacteria or living things using chemicals as energy source in the absence of sunlight ex. chemoautotrophs
1st law of thermodynamics
energy cannot be created or destroyed only converted to other forms
2nd law of thermodynamics
during any energy conversion some of the energy is converted into waste energy like heat and cannot be recovered.
Why is energy transfer inefficient?
- used to promote the survival and growth of the organism
- some is eliminated through waste
- some energy required to digest and metabolize the food.
- energy metabolized is lost as heat
ecological pyramids
represent energy flow and shows energy loss as fewer animals can be supported at each trophic level
pyramid of numbers
shows decrease in numbers of individuals with loss of energy at each trophic level and can appear inverted
pyramid of biomass
show how much mass is lost at each level, must use dry mass and calculated with a calorimeter.
pyramid of energy
shows energy transfer and is the most accurate
monocultures
plants one type of planteliminates food source, destroys other plants, some soils need variety of plants to maintain nutrient levels
biological amplification
concentration of toxin increases with each trophic level
things that interfere with ecological pyramids
- monocultures- agriculture
- pesticides- biological application ex) DDT and the peregrine falcon- weakened eggs so that the young could not survive
water cycle
the path of water as it moves from evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and transpiration
concern: many pollutants are water souluble
properties of water
universal solvent
polar molecule
hydrogen bonding
surface tension due to hydrogen bonding
high heat capacity- moderates climate
sulfur cycle
sulfur enters the atmosphere by combustion of fossil fuels, volcanoes and decomposition gases. sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide react with water vapor to form sulfuric and sulfurous acids. nitrogen oxides react with water vapor to form nitric and nitrous acids.
problem: acid rain
acid rain
sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide react with water vapor to form sulfuric and sulfurous acids. nitrogen oxides react with water vapor to form nitric and nitrous acids.
causes crop damage and release heavy metals.
carbon cycle
carbon is used by plants in photosynthesis and released by cellular respiration, burning fossil fuels or organic material and decomposition of organic material.
concern: increed carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change.
fossil fuels
they are a major storehouse for carbon and burning causes global carbon dioxide levels to rise causing climate change.
greenhouse gases
methane, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxides, CFC’s, water vapor
Kyoto protocol- 1997
an agreement to try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels- costs a lot
the nitrogen cycle
nitrogen is in proteins and is apart of 80% of the atmosphere and can’t be used by mist organsims, must be ‘fixed’ to be nitrate or nitrite to be used by plants.
nitrogen fixation
fixed to be nitrite or nitrate by high energy sources ex) lightning or bacteria in soil that is symbiotic and found in the nodules of plant roots ex) alfalfa and legumes.
nitrifying bacteria
ammonifying bacteria converts the nitrogen into ammonia or ammonium ions. then ammonia is converted into nitrates and nitrites by nitrifying bacteria. farmers use this bacteria and put ammonia on soil for cheaper costs.
denitifying bacteria
bacteria that converts nitrates back to nitrogen gas, they are undesirable in the soil and increase activity under anaerobic conditions (low oxygen)
algal bloom
over fertillizing can lead to runoff and cause algal blooms. The algae will grow quickly then suddenly run out of nutrients which causes massive algae death. Decomposition by bacteria will rapidly deplete the oxygen in the water.- fish die-
the phosphorus cycle
required in cell membranes, ATP, DNA and in bone formation, and cycles through the earths crust through living organisms.
excess phosphorus can also cause algal bloom and can be present in detergents.
