2.5 Function
2.5.1 - Explain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in the ecosystem.
2.5.2 - Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs and energy transformations.
Respiration involves breaking down food, often in the form of glucose, to release energy which is used in living processes. Formula shows detailed steps of respiration, and also compounds that are essential for breaking down any matter.
glucose + oxygen ----> energy + water + carbon dioxide
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ----> energy + 6H20 + 6CO2
Photosynthesis is a process by which plants make their own food from water and carbon dioxide. This also creates oxygen. Plants use sunlight energy to split water and combine with carbon dioxide. Food is created in a form or sugar or glucose. The
chemicals produced by this process are essential for every species.
carbon dioxide + water (sunlight energy) ----> glucose + oxygen
6CO2 + H2O (sunlight energy) ----> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Both respiration and photosynthesis are essential processes of life. They form a chain, neither of them could exist without the other. They both are the part of cycle and transform the same compounds.
Animals (heterotrophs) must respire in order to release energy from the food they consume. Plants (autotrophs) must do both photosynthesis, to manufacture their own food, and respiration to release the energy from this food.
How do plants and animals actually use this energy? (Four main ways!)
glucose + oxygen ----> energy + water + carbon dioxide
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ----> energy + 6H20 + 6CO2
Photosynthesis is a process by which plants make their own food from water and carbon dioxide. This also creates oxygen. Plants use sunlight energy to split water and combine with carbon dioxide. Food is created in a form or sugar or glucose. The
chemicals produced by this process are essential for every species.
carbon dioxide + water (sunlight energy) ----> glucose + oxygen
6CO2 + H2O (sunlight energy) ----> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Both respiration and photosynthesis are essential processes of life. They form a chain, neither of them could exist without the other. They both are the part of cycle and transform the same compounds.
Animals (heterotrophs) must respire in order to release energy from the food they consume. Plants (autotrophs) must do both photosynthesis, to manufacture their own food, and respiration to release the energy from this food.
How do plants and animals actually use this energy? (Four main ways!)
INPUTS, OUTPUTS and TRANSFORMATIONS
Photosynthesis
Inputs: Carbon dioxide, water and sunlight Outputs: Carbohydrate (glucose), oxygen, energy (heat) Transformations: Carbon dioxide into oxygen, water and sunlight, glucose and sugar |
Respiration
Inputs: Glucose and oxygen, Outputs: Water, carbon dioxide, energy (heat) Transformation: Oxygen into carbon dioxide and energy, glucose into water and energy |
2.5.3 - Describe and explain the transfer and transformation of energy as it flows through an ecosystem.
GEORGE -> Pages 56-60 Answer the following 10 questions in a Word Document to be sent to me. Include any diagrams or videos that help to explain the concepts more clearly.
1. State the driving energy for almost all ecosystems?
Ecological energetics is the study of flow and storage in food chains and webs. Primary energy for all ecosystems is sun.
2. Explain the difference between the flow of energy and the flow of materials in an environment?
Energy flows, Materials Cycle. This basically means that energy transforms and materials transfer. Flow of something can be just from one animal to another, while cycle is renewable and can be reused.
3. Explain how the first and second laws of thermodynamics influence the flow of energy through the ecosystem?
The first and second laws of thermodynamics influence ecosystems. The first law of thermodynamics states that matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed. The second law notes that when energy is converted from one form to another, there is a loss of energy through the release of heat. Generally, only about 10 percent of the energy from one level of a food chain moves to the next level. The amount of energy that is transferred from one organism to the next varies because some energy has already been used by the first organism, according to the second law of thermodynamics. A plant will use some energy it receives to grow. Herbivores use energy to grow, look for food and escape predators. Predators use large amounts of energy to chase down food. All this energy is lost in the form of heat.
4. Using the diagram above, calculate the percentages of energy reaching the Earths surface which is transformed into energy used by living organisms. Outline your calculation.
So total is 342 (100%). Energy reaching the surface is 168+30 = 198.
5. Outline four ways in which living organisms an use energy
Living organisms use energy in: Movement, Respiration, Photosynthesis, Reproduction.
6. Explain why only 1-4% of the original energy leaving the sun is available to plants on the Earths surface.
Most of the energy is reflected from the ground, water and atmosphere. Also from the clouds.
7. Explain why only 0.06% of this energy is actually used by plants for photosynthesis.
Because rest of it is part of NPP – the amount of food available to all the animals including humans.
8. Outline the ¨10% Rule¨. How does this rule help to explain the number of organisms at each trophic level?
10% rule states that only 10% of the energy consumed at one trophic level is available to the next trophic level. This explains decreasing number of organisms at higher trophic levels.
9. Describe the effect of decomposers on the flow of both energy and matter in an ecosystem.
Decompositions mainly happen on lower layers of an ecosystem. For example: effect of it on a leave would mean breaking it down by earthworms (matter) and then transforming energy into the heat and nutrients.
1. State the driving energy for almost all ecosystems?
Ecological energetics is the study of flow and storage in food chains and webs. Primary energy for all ecosystems is sun.
2. Explain the difference between the flow of energy and the flow of materials in an environment?
Energy flows, Materials Cycle. This basically means that energy transforms and materials transfer. Flow of something can be just from one animal to another, while cycle is renewable and can be reused.
3. Explain how the first and second laws of thermodynamics influence the flow of energy through the ecosystem?
The first and second laws of thermodynamics influence ecosystems. The first law of thermodynamics states that matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed. The second law notes that when energy is converted from one form to another, there is a loss of energy through the release of heat. Generally, only about 10 percent of the energy from one level of a food chain moves to the next level. The amount of energy that is transferred from one organism to the next varies because some energy has already been used by the first organism, according to the second law of thermodynamics. A plant will use some energy it receives to grow. Herbivores use energy to grow, look for food and escape predators. Predators use large amounts of energy to chase down food. All this energy is lost in the form of heat.
4. Using the diagram above, calculate the percentages of energy reaching the Earths surface which is transformed into energy used by living organisms. Outline your calculation.
So total is 342 (100%). Energy reaching the surface is 168+30 = 198.
5. Outline four ways in which living organisms an use energy
Living organisms use energy in: Movement, Respiration, Photosynthesis, Reproduction.
6. Explain why only 1-4% of the original energy leaving the sun is available to plants on the Earths surface.
Most of the energy is reflected from the ground, water and atmosphere. Also from the clouds.
7. Explain why only 0.06% of this energy is actually used by plants for photosynthesis.
Because rest of it is part of NPP – the amount of food available to all the animals including humans.
8. Outline the ¨10% Rule¨. How does this rule help to explain the number of organisms at each trophic level?
10% rule states that only 10% of the energy consumed at one trophic level is available to the next trophic level. This explains decreasing number of organisms at higher trophic levels.
9. Describe the effect of decomposers on the flow of both energy and matter in an ecosystem.
Decompositions mainly happen on lower layers of an ecosystem. For example: effect of it on a leave would mean breaking it down by earthworms (matter) and then transforming energy into the heat and nutrients.
2.5.4 - Describe and explain the transfer and transformation of materials as they cycle within an ecosystem.
Transfer:
Transformation:
Transformation:
2.5.5 - Define the terms gross productivity, net productivity, primary productivity and secondary productivity.
LUKA -> Pages 31-33 Answer the following 10 questions in a Word Document to be sent to me. Include any diagrams or videos that help to explain the concepts more clearly.
1. Describe the difference between the terms Gross Productivity and Net Productivity in Ecology (not business).
2. In ecological terms, what is the difference between Primary and Secondary Productivity?
3. Define the term Biomass and Dry Mass
4. Compare and contrast the terms Gross Primary Product and Secondary Primary Product.
5. Outline the two ways that plants can use the glucose produced by photosynthesis
6. Explain clearly the equation: NPP = GPP - R
7. Explain why all of the energy consumed by herbivores is not actually used using the terms egestion and assimilation.
8. Explain clearly the equation: NSP = GSP - R
9. Outline and explain the difference between carnivores and herbivores in terms of assimilation and egestion.
10. Add the following terms to the Moodle Glossary; Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), Net Primary Productivity (NPP), Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP) and Net Secondary Productivity (NSP)
1. Describe the difference between the terms Gross Productivity and Net Productivity in Ecology (not business).
2. In ecological terms, what is the difference between Primary and Secondary Productivity?
3. Define the term Biomass and Dry Mass
4. Compare and contrast the terms Gross Primary Product and Secondary Primary Product.
5. Outline the two ways that plants can use the glucose produced by photosynthesis
6. Explain clearly the equation: NPP = GPP - R
7. Explain why all of the energy consumed by herbivores is not actually used using the terms egestion and assimilation.
8. Explain clearly the equation: NSP = GSP - R
9. Outline and explain the difference between carnivores and herbivores in terms of assimilation and egestion.
10. Add the following terms to the Moodle Glossary; Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), Net Primary Productivity (NPP), Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP) and Net Secondary Productivity (NSP)
2.5.6 - Define the terms and calculate the values of both gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) from given data.
2.5.7 - Define the terms and calculate the values of both gross secondary productivity (GSP) and net secondary productivity (NSP) from given data.