Energy in the Biosphere + Bioaccumulation Flashcards
the study of the relationships between living things (organisms) and their non-living surroundings, the environment.
Ecology
the narrow zone around the Earth that contains life
Biosphere
What are the two types of systems?
Open and Closed system
The system which allows energy and matter to cross the system’s boundary - to enter and leave it.
Open system
The system which allows only energy (but not matter) to cross the system’s boundary.
Closed system
In terms of matter, Earth is considered which system?
A Closed system (all the matter that is here is here to stay)
In terms of energy, Earth is considered which system?
A Open system (sun’s energy enters and some is radiated back into space)
object or group of objects that scientists study
System
All organisms need ______ to survive.
Energy
Energy on Earth originates from what?
the Sun
takes energy from the sun and stores it in high energy molecules (such as glucose)
Photosynthesis
allows organisms to breakdown glucose –> release energy that can be used to maintain life processes
Cellular Respiration
What are the 4 life processes?
Growth, Movement, Repair, and Reproduction
What is Albedo?
the amount of reflected energy
Do light-coloured, reflective surfaces have higher or lower Albedo?
higher!!
Do dark-coloured surfaces have higher or lower Albedo?
lower!!
(True or False) Both matter and energy cycles through the biosphere.
False - Matter does but Energy only passes through and does not cycle.
(Part of the Second Law of Thermodynamics) As energy is converted from one form to another, some energy is always lost in the form of what?
HEAT
In what way does the energy involved with Photosynthesis differ from energy involved with Cellular Respiration?
Photosynthesis uses energy directly from the sunlight while as Cellular Respiration uses the sunlight indirectly.
What percentage of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s land and ocean surfaces?
51%
What is the First Law of Thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
With every energy conversion, there is less energy available to do useful work.
Organisms capable of producing their own food.
Autotrophs / Producers / Photosynthetic / Chemosynthetic / SO MANY NAMES
the process where energy from chemical nutrients is converted into useful energy (carbohydrates) in the absence of sunlight
Chemosynthesis
Organisms incapable of Photosynthesis.
-Obtains food and energy from Autotrophs and other..
Heterotrophs aka Consumers
Special group of Heterotrophs that break down wastes or detritus (dead matter)
Decomposers
Feeds on Plants
Herbivores
Feeds on Animals
Carnivores
Feeds on Plants and Animals
Omnivore
Consumers that obtain energy/nutrients plants
Primary Consumers
Consumers that feed on primary consumers (<-herbivore)
Secondary Consumers
Consumers that feed on secondary consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Trophic levels describe feeding relationships in ecosystems where what are transferred?
Energy and Matter
What trophic level are producers?
1st Trophic level
What trophic level are Primary Consumers?
2nd Trophic level
What trophic level are Secondary Consumers?
3rd Trophic level
What trophic level are Tertiary Consumers?
4th Trophic level
What trophic level are Quaternary Consumers?
5th Trophic level
Which Trophic levels can decomposers feed on?
ALLL
What is the Rule of 10?
Only 10% of energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next.
Model that shows the linear pathways through which food is transferred from producers to primary consumers and higher trophic levels
Food Chains
A series of interlocking food chains representing the transfer of energy through various trophic levels in an ecosystem
Food Webs
What do Ecological Pyramids represent?
energy flow in food chains and webs
What are 3 types of Ecological Pyramids?
Pyramid of Numbers, Biomass, and Energy
Pyramid that represents the counting numbers of an Organism at each Trophic level
Pyramid of numbers
Which type of ecological pyramid cannot be inverted?
Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid that represents the measure of dry tissue of an Organism at each Trophic level
Pyramid of Biomass
Pyramid that represents the measure of thermal energy released from chemical bonds at each Trophic level
Pyramid of Energy
Why is less energy transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem?
90% of energy is used by the organism/lost in the form of heat
Why is there a limit to the length of food chains?
The longer the food chain, the less energy gets passed.
the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.
Bioaccumulation
the accumulation of chemicals which increase in concentration as you move up the food chain
Biomagnification
