Energy transfer - SB9 Flashcards
how much energy is captured by photosynethsis each year over the whole earth? - how is this energy obtained?
3x10^20 J transfered by light from the sun
where is energy from photosynthesis transfered to? how is energy lost?
substances in new plant biomass - rest is transfered to environment by heating through respiration
what are the trophic levels of a food chain?
position of an organism in the food chain based on it’s role
Why is energy lost during transfer in food chain?
due to heating during metabolic processes
how is the path of energy considered in transfer through foodchain?
energy flow through the biotic components of an ecosystem
how can energy transfers be represented?
sankey diagram
how can efficiency be calculated?
energy transfered to biomass / total energy supplied to organism = efficiency
how can biomass of all organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem be displayed?
pyramid of biomass
how are the levels of the pyramid of biomass decided?
position in food chain (tertiary consumers on top and producers on bottom)
why is the pyramid of biomass usually pyramid shape?
ebergy is transfered from food chain to the environment at each trophic level, so, with less energy available, less biomass is produced
how is percentage transfer of biomass between trophic levels in a pyramid of biomass calculated?
(primary consumer biomass / producer biomass) x 100
why is there a maximum length for a food chain in an ecosystem?
energy stored in the biomass of the top trophic level is too little to support another trophic level
