Flow of Energy Flashcards
At what ecological level do we typically focus on the flow of energy?
Explain what primary productivity is, including GPP and NPP.
What is the source of virtually all energy flowing through ecosystems?
How do we find GPP and NPP? Include formulas and explain how ecologists
might take measurements.
What is secondary productivity?
What drives terrestrial NPP? Aquatic NPP?
Terrestrial NPP:
Aquatic NPP:
How do humans use NPP?
Compare NPP to standing crop (biomass)
how to calculate the efficiencies of energy transfers across trophic levels
how
much is respired:
consumption efficiency:
net production efficiency:
assimilation
efficiency:
ecological efficiency:
Think about what each formula tells us. How do the formulas differ? How do
they relate to one another?
Interpret trophic pyramids, comparing energy and biomass in aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems.
Why do aquatic systems have a large biomass of consumers?
Connect the trophic pyramids to ecological efficiencies between aquatic and
terrestrial systems.
