Unit 1: Chapter 5 - Energy in Biomass Flashcards
Pyramids of Biomass
The Sun is key source of energy for all groups of living organisms.
Plants can add to more biomass with photosynthesis of the sun.
Biomass: The mass of material in living organisms. This biomass is ultimately created from the Sun. Biomass is measured as the dry mass of biological material in grams.
Biomass is passed on through the food chain, but the beginning of biomass production starts from the sun.
PYRAMIDS OF BIOMASS
To show the amount of biomass at each stage of a food chain is less than it was at a previous stage, we can draw the total amount of biomass in the living organisms at each stage of the food chain.
e.g.
There is 1 Oak tree
10,000 Aphids
200 Ladybirds
Pyramid of NUMBERS
| Ladybirds (200) |
| Aphids (10,000) |
|Oak tree (1)|
Pyramid of MASS
Oak tree: 500,000g
Aphids: 1000g
Ladybirds: 50g
|Ladybirds|
| Aphids | | Oak Tree |
INTERPRETING PYRAMIDS OF BIOMASS
The amount of biomass decreases at each stage because:
- Not all organisms are eaten by the stage above
- Some material and energy taken in is passed out as waste by the organism
- Lots of the plant biomass taken in is used for respiration and very little of it used to make new cells. This means very little plant biomass eaten is available to be passed on.
Energy Transfers
Types of energy loss includes:
- Energy loss in waste. A herbivore cannot fully digest all plant material. Similarly, a carnivore cannot fully digest a herbivore (e.g. hooves, bones, claws) and there for some of the mass is lost through the faeces.
- Energy loss due to movement. Part of the biomass consumed is used for respiration in the cells. This supplies all energy needed for all living processes, including movement.
Movement particularly uses a great amount of energy. The muscles use energy to contract and also get hot. - Keeping a Constant Temp. Energy transfers to the surroundings are particularly large in mammals and birds and so they use energy constantly to maintain homestasis.
Decay Process
A group of microorganisms called DECOMPOSERS break down waste (dead animals and plants). These plants return the nutrients and other materials to the environment. The same material is recycled over and over again. This leads to stable community of organisms.
DETRITUS FEEDERS (Maggots, and some types worms) begin the decay process. They eat dead animals and produce waste. DECOMPOSERS then digest this waste, but they also use some of these nutrients to grow and reproduce. They also release waste products.
DECOMPOSER’S WASTE PRODUCTS: CO2, H2O and nutrients that plants can use.
CONDITIONS OF DECAY
The speed at which things decay depend on three things: these are WARM conditions, MOIST conditions and plenty of OXYGEN.
Moist conditions also allows the microorganisms to grow rapidly.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DECAY
Decomposers are used in SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS to break down bodily waste we produce. This makes it safe to release in the rivers and into the sea.
Another place where decomposers are useful are COMPOST HEAPS. The break down of vegetable peeling forms compost which is used as a fertilizer.
The Carbon Cycle
All the main MOLECULES that make up our body are either: CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEIN OR FAT. These molecules are based on CARBON that are combined with other elements.
The amount of carbon in this world is FIXED. Some of this carbon is ‘locked-up’ in coal, oil and gas. It can only be released if burn them. (COMBUSTION)
Carbon is found in many forms such i.e gas, solid and liquid. This is due to various processes such as:
- Photosynthesis: Plants REMOVE CO2 through photosynthesis. They use this CO2 to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This makes up the biomass of plants and algae.
This carbon can then be passed onto animals who consume these plants. This is how carbon is taken out of the environment. - Respiration - All living organisms respire at all times. They use oxygen to break down glucose. Carbon dioxide is WASTE PRODUCT of this process.
When plants or animals die, their bodies are broken down by decomposers and detritus feeders. Carbon dioxide is released when these organisms respire. All the carbon (CO2) released by various organisms is then available again. It is then ready to be taken up by plants through PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
- Combustion -
Fossil fuel/Wood + Oxygen —> CO2 + Water
Burning fossil fuels produce CO2, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The fossil-fuels contain carbon (solid) that is ‘LOCKED-UP’.
ENERGY TRANSFER
When plants photosynthesise, they transfer light ENERGY to chemical ENERGY can be the food that they make. The chemical energy is transferred through one organism to another through the carbon cycle. The decomposers break down corpses, leaving nutrients in the soil for the plants to ABSORB.
For years, the carbon cycle has been regulating itself. However, the increasing burning of fossil-fuels we are burning is increasing CO2 levels dramatically. This will eventually lead to Global Warming.
Recycling Organic Waste
Most of the waste in a land-fill is organic. By recycling, we can reduce the mountains of garbage we produce.
The conditions of landfills are not ideal for rotting waste. This is because a smelly form can be produced and pollutes rivers and streams. Furthermore, in these conditions, microorganisms produce methane, further leading to the increase of Global Warming.
One way to reduce this waste is through composting. It produces a good fertiliser, but also greatly decreases the rubbish produced in the landfill site.
