Ecology energy flow and use

Ecosystems need both ____ and___ to grow, reproduce, and maintain homeostasis

nutrients, energy

GPP

gross primary productivity - all of the energy contained in organic molecules produced by photosynthesis

NPP

net primary productivity - the chemical energy assimilated into the plant and available for consumption

GPP equation

NPP + energy lost through respiration

How can food webs help us understand the impact of ecosystem changes

They describe the tropic level of a specific organism in the food chain, they also predict effects of extinction

Describe the trend we see as we move up a energy pyramid

the trophic level increases

What happens to 90% of energy not passed to the next tropic level

Ultimately lost as heat, decomposers feed on inedible parts and dead organisms to recycle energy

Ectotherm

heat from outside. don't have to burn energy making heat inside their body. Disadvantage is that metabolism and enzymes slow down in cold weather

Endotherm

Generating heat inside. Always at homeostasis. Disadvantage is that they have to eat over and over to stay in homeostasis

Predation relationship

The predator and prey keep populations in check. If too many predators too little prey, if too little predators too many prey then too little producers.

symbiotic relationship

different species live together

Parasitism

one organism benefits and another is harmed

Mutualism

Both organisms benefit

Commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed