Energy Flow and Biochemical Cycles

ecosystems

communities of living organisms and their interactions with their abiotic environment

food chain

linear sequence that nutrients and energy pass as organisms eat

trophic level

group that share same function and nutrient relation to primary producers

primary producer

decomposers

recycle nutrients by breaking down organic matter and releasing carbon back to environment

trophic level transfer efficiency

measurement of energy transfer efficiency between two successive trophic levels

net production efficiency

quantify how efficiently organisms at a pasrticular trophic level incorporate the energy they receive into biomass

typically how much biomass is passed to the next level

10%

water cycle

movement of water

importance of the water cycle

essential for supporting life and regulating climate

carbon cycle

movement of carbon

why is the carbon cycle crucial

vital for climate, plant growth, and balance of carbon based compounds

nitrogen cycle

conversion of nitrogen between its various chemical forms

significance of the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen makes up DNA/RNA and amino acids (proteins)