Advanced Environmental Science Energy Transfer

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason that shorter food chains are considered more efficient?

They include more species at each level.

They transfer energy with fewer losses. (correct)

They have more biomass at each level.

They require less energy for growth.

If an ecosystem has 100,000 calories available at one trophic level, how many calories can potentially be transferred to the next higher level?

10,000 calories (correct)

1,000 calories

5,000 calories

50,000 calories

Which of the following correctly defines gross primary productivity?

The energy captured after accounting for respiration

The total energy captured by consumers

The biomass of all organisms in the ecosystem

The total energy captured by photosynthesis (correct)

The availability of calories from bones and scales in an organism is considered to be:

Low as they do not provide calories Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about ecosystem boundaries is true?

They depend on numerous subjective factors. Signup and view all the answers

What does net primary productivity (NPP) represent?

The difference between gross primary production and organic compounds used in respiration Signup and view all the answers

What is biomass primarily used for in an ecosystem?

Estimating gross productivity Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes energy transfer efficiency in a food web?

Only a small proportion of consumed energy is passed between trophic levels. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines ecological efficiency?

The efficiency of energy transformation between trophic levels Signup and view all the answers

How do ecosystems provide cultural services?

By offering aesthetic and recreational benefits Signup and view all the answers

What role does species diversity play in ecosystem resilience?

It enhances the ecosystem's ability to recover from disturbances. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to solar energy as it flows through a food web?

It becomes increasingly unusable. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly represents the formula for calculating net productivity?

Gross Productivity - Respiration Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason the ocean is considered the largest producer on the planet?

The vast amount of phytoplankton or algae present. Signup and view all the answers

How much energy from producers is typically available to primary consumers?

10% Signup and view all the answers

What biomes have similar levels of productivity when calculating biomass per square meter?

Tropical rainforest and salt marsh estuaries. Signup and view all the answers

What does the First Law of Thermodynamics state regarding energy?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to energy as it moves from one trophic level to the next?

Some energy is lost while some is conserved. Signup and view all the answers

What role do decomposers play in energy transfer within an ecosystem?

They help recycle energy by decomposing dead matter. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the Second Law of Thermodynamics?

Energy remains constant but loses ability to do work. Signup and view all the answers

Which biome is characterized by having lower productivity than tropical rainforests and estuaries?

Desert Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of producers in an ecosystem?

To convert sunlight into usable energy Signup and view all the answers

Which process produces glucose as an end product?

Photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

What do the products of cellular respiration primarily include?

Carbon dioxide and water Signup and view all the answers

In which organelles does oxidative respiration occur?

Mitochondria Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of tropical oceans in relation to carbon dioxide?

They serve as carbon sinks. Signup and view all the answers

In food chains, what is the primary function of organisms that consume producers?

To gain energy from organic compounds Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is considered abiotic in an ecosystem?

Soil Signup and view all the answers

What is biomass primarily composed of in the ecosystem?

Organic compounds produced by photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

What role do autotrophs play in ecosystems?

They produce food through photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of decomposers in the ecosystem?

To rearrange organic materials into nutrients. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a food web?

An interconnected system of food chains. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by carrying capacity in an ecosystem?

The maximum number of individuals that can be supported. Signup and view all the answers

How is energy transfer represented in trophic pyramids?

By comparing energy calories, biomass, and number of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to energy as it moves through different trophic levels?

It is lost as heat and unusable forms. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the dominant population in a community?

It is the most abundant population. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a keystone species?

A species that is critical for maintaining the structure of a community. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

Energy is crucial for respiration, metabolism, digestion, and predation in organisms.
Non-caloric parts of organisms include bones and scales.

Trophic Levels and Energy Transfer

Energy transfer efficiency is roughly 10%, with 100,000 calories at one trophic level yielding only 10,000 for the next.
Shorter food chains are more efficient, but they tend to lack diversity.

Ecosystem Boundaries

Ecosystem boundaries are defined by various factors, including biotic and abiotic influences.
Boundaries can be influenced by human activities.

Photosynthesis

Autotrophs convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis, producing glucose from carbon dioxide and water.
This process contributes to biomass production in ecosystems.

Cellular Respiration

Organisms obtain energy from producers through cellular respiration, generating carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
Mitochondria in eukaryotic cells are responsible for oxidative respiration.

Primary Production

Gross primary production (GPP) is the total organic compounds produced via photosynthesis.
Net primary production (NPP) is calculated by subtracting the energy used in respiration from GPP.

Biomass and Productivity

Biomass represents the total organic matter in living organisms, serving as an indicator of ecosystem productivity.
Ecological efficiency illustrates the energy passed between trophic levels, highlighting that each level loses energy.

Trophic Pyramids

Biomass pyramids illustrate energy distribution across trophic levels.
Only 10% of energy from producers reaches primary consumers, and the cycle continues down the food chain.

Laws of Thermodynamics

The First Law states energy cannot be created or destroyed, merely transformed.
The Second Law emphasizes that transformed energy retains quantity but loses some capacity to perform work.

Autotrophs, Heterotrophs, and Decomposers

Autotrophs generate food through photosynthesis, while heterotrophs consume these producers or other consumers.
Decomposers recycle organic matter into usable nutrients for autotrophs.

Energy and Carrying Capacity

The carrying capacity indicates the maximum energy available to support life in an ecosystem.
Food chains show the energy flow from prey to predator, while complex interactions are depicted in food webs.

Key Species and Community Structure

Dominant populations in a community indicate the most common species.
Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and function.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of energy transfer within ecosystems as outlined in Advanced Environmental Science by Carol Matthews and N. Kathryn Weatherhead. This quiz delves into concepts such as respiration, metabolism, and the calorie transfer between trophic levels. Test your understanding of how energy moves through different levels of the food chain.