Energy Transfers Flashcards
What is a detritivore
Detritivore is primary consumer that feeds on dead organic matter
What is decomposer
Decomposer is species of bacteria and fungi that feed on dead remains of organisms
What is trophic level
Trophic level is stage an organism occupies in a food chain
Why is energy transfer from producers to herbivores inefficient
Energy transfer from producer to herbivores is inefficient because
Not all available food is eaten e.g bark, roots
Some undigested food remains in faeces e.g cellulose
Energy is lost in respiration
Why is energy transfer from primary to secondary consumer more efficient
Energy transfer is more efficient from primary to secondary consumer is because More of primary consumer is eaten and more energy of herbivore ends up as new carnivore biomass, herbivore is more digestible than plant so less herbivore biomass is lost in faeces.
What is a limiting factor of photosynthesis
Limiting factor of photosynthesis is anything that dope rate of photosynthesis from increasing further e.g temp, light energy
What is net primary productivity and what is it measured in
Net primary productivity is Rate at which energy is incorporated into organic molecules to make up new plant biomass NPP =GPP-R. (Amount energy available for next trophic level)
Measured in energy per unit area e.g KJ per m^2 per year
What is NPP formula
NPP formula is GPP - rate of energy used in respiration
What is GPP
GPP (gross primary productivity) is rate at which energy is incorporated into organic molecules. Measured in KJ m^-2 yr^-1
What is % efficiency of photosynthesis
% efficiency of photosynthesis is GPP/ total amount of light available at plant surface x 10p
Where is energy lost between light energy and producers
Between light energy and producers, energy is lost in GPP (not all energy absorbed by chlorophyll)
NPP(some of energy fixed as carbohydrate used in respiration wo does not form new plant biomass)
