Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an atom?
The basic unit of a chemical element
What is a molecule?
2 or more atoms held together by chemical bonds
What are products?
the result of chemical reactions
What is photosynthesis?
the process by which plants and some other organisms capture radiant energy and use it to make chemical energy (food) fro carbon dioxide and water
What must be present in plant cells for photosynthesis to occur?
chloroplast
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2+6H2O+radiant energy=C6H12O6+6O2
Where does photosynthesis take place?
In the chloroplast of plant cells
What does aerobic mean?
with oxygen
What does anaerobic mean?
without oxygen
Where is ATP produced?
in the mitochondria
What are the movements of matter and energy?
matter cycles
energy flows
What does the energy flow begin with?
the sun
What are autotrophs?
organisms that make their own food (sugar)
What are heterotrophs?
get energy by consuming other organisms
What are the 4 types of consumers and what do they each do?
Herbivore: eats plants (producers)
Carnivore: eats other animals (meat)
Omnivore: eats both producers and meat
Decomposer: feeds on organisms’ remains
What the food chain order?
Plant -> Primary consumer -> secondary consumer -> tertiary consumer
What do energy pyramids to?
show the amount of energy available in each step of the food chain
How much energy transfers from one level to the next? What happens to the rest?
about 10%
90% is used up in life processes or heat loss
