Energy Trophics Flashcards
What is the gross primary production?
Rate of photosynthesis
How do you solve for net primary production (NPP)?
NPP = GPP - rate of respiration
Where do you find the highest productivity on land?
At the equator and declining near the poles due to concentration of solar energy
Where do you find the higest productivity in the ocean?
At the coasts due to upwelling and tides (increasing nutrient flow and availability)
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
In a food chain each predator only has one food source, whereas in a food web a predator can have multiple prey sources
What is Lindeman’s Law of 10%?
On average, about 10% of energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level
What is ecological efficiency?
The proportion of net primary energy that becomes net secondary energy
What is the equation for ecological efficiency?
Consumption * Assimilation * Production Efficiency
Who sets the max energy for a system?
Primary producers
What limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem?
Amount of available energy
Efficiency of energy transfer across trophic levels
What is a keystone species?
Positively benefits many other organisms in an ecosystem
Impactful to the stability of the ecosystem
EX: starfish
What is a foundation species?
A species that serves as a habitat which organisms live in or on
EX: coral reef
What is an ecosystem engineer species?
Modifies ecosystems and increases overall diversity
EX: beavers
What is the top down effect?
A trickle down effect of the trophic levels that starts at the predator
EX: orcas and urchins
What is the bottom up effect?
A trickle down effect of the trophic levels that starts at the producers
EX: Algae and fish
