Transfers of energy and matter

Explain how ecosystems are open systems.

energy and matter leaves the ecosystem.

Draw a food chain as a pyramid with material moving, chemical energy moving and the flow of energy as light or heat.

Whats a decomposer? how are producers and decomposers interconnected?

decomposer: organism that feeds on dead plants, animals and waste.

Producers use inorganic molecules provided by decomposers and decomposers use organic material provided by producers.

Explain the recycling of nutrients for an animal and plant. also called nutrient cycle.

dead animal/plant —> physically broken up by detrivore —> bacteria/fungi start decomposing it, feeding on organic molecules —> decomposition releases carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

What is a detritivore?

a type of heterotroph that obtains nutrients from non-living organic sources

What is an autotroph?

produces its own food using light, water.

What is a photoautotroph?

What is a chemautotroph?

transfer solar energy into chemical energy to survive.

uses chemical energy from oxidation for glucose

What is a heterotroph?

Organisms only using existing organic matter by consuming other organisms.

Show the trophic levels of an ecosystem and explain each level.

Producers at the bottom which are consumed by primary consumers. Secondary consumers are carnivores and feed on primary consumers. Tertiary consumers feed on secondary consumers etc…

Describe how and where energy availability is reduced between trophic levels.

Between each trophic level energy is lost. Energy is lost when it is reflected from plant leaves and when lost as heat energy. Some energy is used in metabolism and development.

It is lost by:

biomass not being eaten

excretion

loss of heat by respiration

loss of inedible parts eg bones

What is the carbon cycle?

In plants, photosynthesis converts the atmospheres carbon into biomass. Feeding, first of primary producers by herbivores, and then carnivores eating herbivores transfers carbon. Carbon is released to the atmosphere by respiration.

What is a carbon sink and carbon source? gives 1 eg for both.

Carbon sink: absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. eg plants or ocean

carbon source: emits more carbon than it absorbs eg burning fossil fuels.

Give 2 examples of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

Burning fossil fuels and burning forests since trees burning down releases built up carbon