Energy Flow in the Biosphere

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the green pigment found in leaves that allows for photosynthesis?

Carotene

Melanin

Chlorophyll (correct)

Anthocyanin

Which of the following is NOT a producer?

Mushrooms (correct)

Plants

Bacteria

Algae

What gas is produced by photosynthesis?

Hydrogen

Carbon Dioxide

Oxygen (correct)

Nitrogen

Which of the following statements accurately describes the process of cellular respiration?

Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms break down glucose to release energy. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the organelle responsible for photosynthesis?

Chloroplast (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT true about photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis occurs in both plants and animals. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following equations represents the process of photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide + water + sunlight → glucose + oxygen (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an autotroph?

Oak Tree (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

They convert light energy into chemical energy. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term "de-compose" mean in the context of the provided text?

To break down into simpler substances (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the First Law of Thermodynamics apply to the flow of energy in the biosphere?

Energy is converted from one form to another within the biosphere, but the total amount remains constant. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms would be considered a tertiary consumer based on the information provided?

A bear that eats both berries and fish (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Earth considered a closed system in regards to energy?

Because the Earth receives a finite amount of energy from the Sun and loses a negligible amount to outer space. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why pyramids of numbers and biomass can be inverted?

The ecosystem is characterized by a large number of primary consumers feeding on a single producer. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of an inverted pyramid of biomass?

The primary consumers have a higher biomass than the producers. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the pyramid of energy always upright?

Because energy flows down the food chain with some loss at each trophic level; the producers capture more energy than consumers. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason why an inverted pyramid of numbers would occur in an ecosystem?

A large population of primary consumers feeding on a small population of producers. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between pyramids of numbers, biomass, and energy?

The pyramids of numbers and biomass can be inverted, but the pyramid of energy is always upright. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the solar energy that reaches the ground is used for photosynthesis?

1 to 2% (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary process that allows life to exist in environments without sunlight?

Chemosynthesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What do specialized bacteria near deep-sea vents primarily use as an energy source?

Hydrogen sulfide (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following environments has NOT been identified as a habitat for chemosynthetic organisms?

Deserts (A) Signup and view all the answers

What term describes organisms that cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming others?

Heterotrophs (C) Signup and view all the answers

What process is most directly tied to the formation and creation of organic compounds in organisms?

Synthesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about chemosynthetic organisms?

They can be found in a variety of environments. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reaction is equivalent to the concept of synthesis in a chemical context?

Formation reaction (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the general rule regarding the percentage of energy passed on from one trophic level to the next?

Between 5% and 20% (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes a food web?

A complex network of interconnected food chains. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How many trophic levels can typically exist within an ecosystem due to energy loss?

Five levels (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does an ecological pyramid of numbers represent?

The number of organisms occupying each trophic level. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of ecological pyramid specifically represents energy distribution?

Pyramid of Energy (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the energy that is not passed on to the next trophic level?

It is lost to the environment. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which law primarily indicates that energy conversions always involve a loss of energy?

Second Law of Thermodynamics (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the limitation of trophic levels in ecosystems?

Significant energy loss at each level. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Energy Flow Through the Biosphere

Living things require energy for survival.
Organisms use cellular respiration to obtain energy from chemical compounds.
Producers create these chemical compounds.

What are Autotrophs/Producers?

Autotrophs are organisms that create their own food through processes like photosynthesis.
They are crucial at the base of food chains.
Examples include plants, algae, and some bacteria

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis, a process used by plants, converts light energy into chemical energy.
The overall process can be summarised as: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
Chlorophyll is the key pigment involved in absorbing sunlight.

Energy Transfer

The sun provides the initial energy source for most ecosystems.
Only a small portion—roughly 1–2%—of solar energy is captured for photosynthesis.
Significant amounts of energy are reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds.

Chemosynthesis

Chemosynthesis is an alternative process to photosynthesis, found in environments without sunlight.
Specialized bacteria utilize chemical energy from inorganic molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide.
These chemoautotrophs serve as primary producers in deep-sea ecosystems and other extreme environments.

Consumers

Consumers are organisms that depend on other organisms for their food.
They cannot produce their own food and obtain it from producers or other consumers.
Consumers can be classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, based on their position in the food chain.

Levels of Consumers

Primary Consumers (herbivores) eat producers like plants.
Secondary consumers (carnivores) eat primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumers are animals that eat secondary consumers

Decomposers

Decomposers break down dead organisms and organic waste, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.
They play a vital role in nutrient cycling.

Energy in the Biosphere

Earth is a closed system regarding matter.
Energy doesn't cycle, as it is lost as heat through trophic levels.

Laws of Thermodynamics

First Law: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Second Law: Entropy always increases in a closed system.
The transfer of energy between levels in a food chain can be characterized by the loss of energy.

Trophic Levels

A trophic level represents an organism's position in a food chain.
Energy availability decreases at higher trophic levels.
Ecological pyramids illustrate the decreasing energy transfer efficiency with each trophic level.

Food Chains and Food Webs

Food chains depict a linear, one-way transfer of energy through organisms.
Food webs illustrate the interconnected nature of energy flow through multiple food chains— showing the complex interactions among species.

Ecological Pyramids

Ecological pyramids depict the relative abundance of biomass, numbers, or energy at various trophic levels within an ecosystem.
Three types exist: Pyramid of Numbers, Pyramid of Biomass, Pyramid of Energy.
The Pyramid of Energy is always upright, while others can be inverted in certain situations—such as the inverted pyramid of biomass in marine ecosystems with abundant phytoplankton producers at the base.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ecological Pyramids (especially Pyramids of Numbers)

Advantages of the pyramid of numbers include its simplicity for general overview and usefulness in comparing ecosystems at different times.
Disadvantages include inaccuracy regarding total numbers to accurately measure, as it doesn't distinguish between juvenile or immature forms.

Summary of Concepts

Energy flow through ecosystems follows specific patterns.
Producers, consumers, and decomposers play critical roles in these patterns.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of energy flow through ecosystems and the role of autotrophs in food production. This quiz covers cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and energy transfer processes vital for survival in the biosphere.