ls) transfer of energy

autotrophs (producers

convert radiant energy into chemical energy

primary consumers

herbivores, feed on plant material

secondary consumers

carnivores, feed on primary consumers

tertiary consumers

carnivores, feed on secondary consumers

Gross primary production (GPP)

the radient energy that is trapped by green plants and transferred into glucose (during photosynthesis)

ecological pyramids

give a visual impression of the relative importance of the various trophic levels in a given ecosystem

the pyramid of bio-numbers

shows the number of organisms in each trophic levels

the pyramid of biomass

indicates the total mass of the organisms in each trophic level

the pyramid of energy

indicates the total amount of energy present in each trophic level

net primary productivity (NPP)

is the rate at which energy is stored as biomass by producers (like plants) after accounting for their respiration

NPP equation (=)

GPP - R(respiration)

secondary production refers to :

the rate at which the consumers in the ecosystem build up energy or dry mass (biomass)

energy budget of a consumer:

C = P+R+U+F