explain why

Question 1

Differentiate between how energy and how carbon flow through a food chain.

Answer 1

Energy flows through organisms, or the trophic levels. We already know about the 10% rule, so energy is lost through heat and waste. Carbon dioxide is absorbed through plants during photosynthesis and then gets stored in plants roots, grasslands, forests, etc. until the plants decay and it gets released. Also, when animals eat those plants and they excrete waste or die, the carbon also gets released back to the atmosphere.

Question 2

Predict how BTB (a pH indicator) will change color in a test tube depending upon:
The contents (plant, animal, both) or light source

Answer 2

When only an animal is present, the pH is likely to turn yellow (no matter the light source) because the animal will be performing cellular respiration and releasing carbon but there is no way for the animal to “inhale” the carbon. When only a plant is present the pH value should stay pretty normal unless no light source is present. If both are present, again, the pH should be level because the carbon is moving throughout, but if no light source is present the water will be yellow.

Question 3

True or False:
Carbon is released through an animals’ or plants’ decay or waste

Answer 3

true

Question 4

True or False:
light source doesn’t affect the pH value

Answer 4

false; without a light source plants cannot perform photosynthesis meaning that the carbon doesn’t get used and thus turning the water yellow.

Question 5

True or False:
plants and animals in a light source should provide the most level pH value

Answer 5

true