Pyramids of Biomass, Decay and the Carbon Cycle Flashcards
What are the levels in a food chain called? What happens when you move up one of these stages?
Trophic levels.
There is less energy and less biomass every time that you move up a trophic level.
On average, what percentage of energy gets passed on to the next trophic level?
10%
Explain how you calculate the amount of energy from the sun that gets to each level? What happens to the waste energy?
10% of the sun’s energy reaches the producer. the remaining 90% of the suns energy is lost to the atmosphere. Out of the 10% that reached the producer, 10% of that gets to the herbivore. 10% X 10% = 1%
this means that 1% of the suns energy gets to the herbivore. The herbivore passes 10% of its energy to the primary consumer and this continues. 10% X 10% X 10% = 0.1% this means that 0.1% of the sun’s energy reaches the primary consumer. The waste energy is used as growth, movement and warmth.
Give the pros and cons regarding intensive farming.
Pros;
Intensive farming allows conditions to be monitored so the animals do not have to use energy fighting disease, moving or hunting for food because this is given to them. This makes the meat cheaper and more affordable.
Cons;
It reduces the amount of ‘family farms’ and puts more waste in to rivers and as a result pollutes water. It can be classed as animal cruelty.
What are some factors that effect the rate of decay?
1) Temperature
- warm conditions speed up the rate of decay
- very high temperatures kill bacteria
- very low temperatures kill bacteria
2) Moisture
- most organisms grow better in moist conditions
3) Oxygen
- all decomposers need oxygen to respire
Why is decay important?
It is vital for recycling resources in the natural world and we use it for compost in gardens which helps plants to grow. In sewage treatment plants, we use micro-organisms to break down the bodily waste.
What are decomposers?
Decomposers are a group of micro-organisms that include fungi and bacteria. They feed on waste droppings and dead organisms. They digest them and use some of the nutrients. They also release waste products which include carbon dioxide and water, which plants can use.
Name the process within the carbon cycle that takes the CO2 out of the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis.
Give three natural ways that CO2 is put back in to the atmosphere.
1) Plant respiration.
2) Animal respiration.
3) CO2 released from decay.
What are two of the ways that humans put CO2 in to the atmosphere?
1) Burning fossil fuels.
2) Burning products made from plants and animals.
