ESS - End of Year Exams 10

Photosynthesis

Autotrophs use light energy to create chemical energy. They do this by absorbing sunlight, along with carbon dioxide and water while producing glucose (an organic molecule) and oxygen as a biproduct

autotrophs

an organism which can produce its own energy via photosynthesis (aka producers)

heterotrophs

an organism that has to consume other organisms in order to gain more organic molecules

chlorophyll

chemical responsible for the green color of plants

Biosynthesis

chemical process by which organisms use the glucose produced to produce various products useful for life, such as protein, DNA, , starch, cellulose, etc

Heterotrophic Respiration

C(6)H(12)O(6) + 6O(2) —> 6CO(2) + 6H(2)O + ATP

Respiration

Respiration is the biochemical process in which the cells of an organism obtain energy by combining oxygen and glucose, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (the currency of energy in cells).

Stomata

pores/small holes found on leaves where air can go through and collect CO2

Organic molecules

complex molecules derived from living organisms built up by hydrocarbons

Pyramids of biomass

Pyramid showing the transfer of energy through the trophic levels

Trophic Levels

The different levels of organisms in the food chain - ranging from primary producer to apex predators

Reasons for loss of energy through the trophic levels (lose approx. 90% of energy per pyramid level)

• biproducts

  • respiration (heat)

  • biosynthesis (heat)

• uneaten material

  • hair, bones, skin

• Excretion/feces

Nitrogen Cycle

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Abiotic factor

a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem

Biotic factor

A living things which has an effect on the ecosystem it inhabits

Limiting factor

anything that constrains a population's size and slows or stops it from growing

example of abiotic factor:

amount of sunlight an area gets

example of biotic factor:

amount of zooplankton in a bay

example of limiting factor:

Biotic: amount of mates in a particular area

Abiotic: altitude in an area