Energy Transfer in the Biosphere Flashcards
What does the term ALBEDO refer to?
The amount of energy reflected by clouds, water and land
Describe Photosynthesis
The process when producers(algae, plants, etc.) convert radiant energy into chemical energy.
Chemical energy vs Radiant Energy
Chemical energy is stored in bonds of carbs such as glucose/sugar, and Radiant energy comes from the sun as visible light, etc.
What are Autotrophs?
Autotrophs produce their own food, by using the suns energy. (producers)
What is Chemosynthesis?
Occurs when there is an absence of light. Microorganisms use hydrogen sulfide to produce their OWN carbohydrate-based energy.
What is produced in the process Chemosynthesis?
This process produces sulfuric acid instead of oxygen.
Describe the process of cellular Respiration?
The process in which chemical energy (stored in bonds of glucose) is being converted into ATP.
- Note that ATP serves as the body’s main fuel source.
Describe a Heterotrophs?
Heterotrophs obtain their food from other organisms. (Consumers)
Fermentation process?
Where bacteria can preform the process of cellular respiration WITHOUT oxygen.
- Metabolic process where organisms convert starch /sugar to alcohol or an acid.
What product is released during the process of fermentation.
During fermentation the process of cellular respiration occurs, except instead of ATP being produced, Pyruvate is produced.
Types of Consumers
- Primary Consumers (HERBIVORES)
- Second Consumers (OMNIVORES/CARNIVORES)
- Tertiary Consumers (TRUE CARNIVORES)
- Decomposers (BACTERIA/FUNGI)
1st Trophic Level
The FIRST trophic level provides ALL chemical energy required for all the consumers. This level is all producers, providing their resources.
2nd level
This level includes herbivores, organisms that eat the plants. Where nutrients are consumed
3rd Level
Consume herbivores, eating organisms from the 2nd. Called Secondary Consumers
4th Level
Carnivores who eat other carnivores.
5th Level
This level is the apex predators/top of the food chain. They are not consumed by any organism.
Decomposers
Considered to have their own trophic level. Break down dead animal and plant matter. (detritivores)
Which trophic level has the greatest amount of energy?
It is proven that the largest amount of energy is found in the first trophic level in a food chain. There is less and less energy available to the higher trophic levels because the organisms at the top of the food chain must consume way MORE than organisms at the bottom of the food chain to obtain energy.
Food Webs
used to represent energy transfer within an ecosystem.
- WAY MORE ACCURATE
RULE OF 10
The energy that is transferred through trophic levels, varies among different kinds of organisms.
- The rule is that 90% of energy is lost within each step.
EXAMPLE:
- The first trophic level could have 10, 000 KJ and the last trophic level would only have 1KJ
What is Bioaccumulation
The accumulation/buildup of a substance overtime in a living organism(CONTAMINENT)
- could be a heavy metal or pesticide, etc.
Why does bioaccumulation occur?
This occurs when an organism absorbs or intakes a substance faster than it can be eliminated or excreted.
- rate of intake exceeds the rate of excretion.
Which trophic level does Bioaccumulation impact the most?
The animals at the top of the food chain are more affected by bioaccumulation. WHY?
- because, the eat the most organisms which are more likely to have already intake chemicals and toxic materials.
How does bioaccumulation affect our health?
Could take part in food poisoning as these toxins could be in the food we are consuming.
What can we do about bioaccumulation?
We can reduce the use of heavy metals and toxic chemicals being release in our lives. Because waters and foods are constantly being contaminated by the flow of chemicals in our air. Which leads to animals intaking toxic chemical, that are eventuality consumed by humans.
Biomagnification
Pollutant or pesticide increases its concentration in the tissues of organisms as it travels up the FOOD CHAIN.
Ecological Pyramids
1) Numbers
2) Biomass
3) Energy
Pyramid of Numbers
Because there is way more energy in the lower trophic levels, and less in the higher levels, we have the “pyramid of numbers” to organize the pyramid with numbers representing the number of organisms in each level.
Pyramid of Biomass
Represent the fry mass of living organisms. Demonstrate how energy is TRANSFERRED from one trophic to the other. this pyramid focuses on the actual size of the organism verses just a number.
Pyramid of Energy
Show the total amount of energy that is transferred through each trophic level. These types of pyramids are always upright , because it has to be shown that there is less energy at the lower trophic levels.
