Energy In ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

NPP

A

GPP- respiratory losses
Amount of energy available for growth and reproduction
Available to be passes on to other tropic levels

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2
Q

GPP

A

Chemical energy store in plant bio mass in a given area

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3
Q

Measuring biomass

A

Dry weight
Mass of carbon (50% of dry)
Fresh weight- less accurate as water contents vary

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4
Q

Net production of consumers

A

N= I- (F+R)

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5
Q

Boost productivity of livestock

A
Warm 
Restrict movement 
Antibiotics 
Selective breeding 
Slaughter animals when young
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6
Q

Boost productivity of crops

A

Fertilisers
Herbicides
Pesticides

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7
Q

Measure productivity

A

Energy per area per unit of time
Area- standardises able to compare, size of ecosystem varies
Time- representative seasonal variations

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8
Q

Importance of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen gas is unreactive, plants cannot take up nitrogen in its gaseous state
Through the cycle nitrates are formed which can be absorbed by plants
Used to produce nucleic acids and proteins
Needed to produce new cells- growth

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9
Q

4 stages of the nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
Denitrification
Ammonification

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10
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

Gas into nitrogen containing compounds ( ammonium)

Nit fix bacteria free living or mutualistic legumes and root nodules ( bacteria get carbs in return)

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11
Q

Ammonification

A

Nitrogen containing compounds of dead organisms/ waste
Broken down decomposed by saprobionts extra cellular digestion
converted into ammonium
Into ammonium ions soil

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12
Q

Denitrification

A

Nitrates into n gas
Denitrifying bacteria
Anaerobic conditions, low ox conc eg water logged

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13
Q

Nitrification

A

Ammonium ions- nitrites- nitrates
2 stage oxidation reaction
Aerobic conditions
Nitrifying bacteria

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14
Q

Nitrates

A

Absorbed by plant via root hair cells
Active transport
Used to produce proteins, nucleic acids

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15
Q

Mycorrhizae

A

Mutualistic relationship between roots n fungi
Increase sa of roots- faster absorption
Bacteria receive carbs in return

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16
Q

Farming to increase nitrogen availability

A
Aerate soil 
Increase ox conc 
Increase nitrifying bacteria 
Reduce denitrifying bacteria 
More nitrates available to be incorporated into plant biomass
Max growth max yield max profits
17
Q

Natural vs artificial fertilisers

A

Natural are cheaper and less soluble in water must be decomposed first, less likely to cause eutrophication
Artificial are made of pure chemicals, meaning the extract nutrient levels can be controlled
More soluble in water- lead to more eutrophication
Organic vs inorganic

18
Q

Environmental consequences of use of fertilisers

A

Eutrophication

Reduce species diversity

19
Q

Why slaughter animals when young?

A

so more energy is transferred to biomass/ tissues

20
Q

Why feed livestock on a controlled diet?

A

so proportion of food digested is higher, less lost in faces