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Questions and Answers
What is insolation?
What is insolation?
- Energy absorbed by inorganic matter
- The energy reflected back into the atmosphere
- The total amount of energy produced by ecosystems
- The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth (correct)
Humans do not affect the flows of energy and matter in ecosystems.
Humans do not affect the flows of energy and matter in ecosystems.
False (B)
What drives the energy and matter flows in ecosystems?
What drives the energy and matter flows in ecosystems?
The Sun's energy
Energy that is absorbed by inorganic matter or reflected back into the atmosphere becomes __________ for ecosystems.
Energy that is absorbed by inorganic matter or reflected back into the atmosphere becomes __________ for ecosystems.
Match the following concepts with their definitions:
Match the following concepts with their definitions:
Which of the following is measured as the amount of energy or biomass per unit area?
Which of the following is measured as the amount of energy or biomass per unit area?
Energy-flow diagrams illustrate energy storages as arrows.
Energy-flow diagrams illustrate energy storages as arrows.
What should students be able to do regarding energy and matter flows in ecosystems?
What should students be able to do regarding energy and matter flows in ecosystems?
What is the formula for calculating Net Primary Productivity (NPP)?
What is the formula for calculating Net Primary Productivity (NPP)?
Ecological efficiency is typically around 50% between trophic levels.
Ecological efficiency is typically around 50% between trophic levels.
What does the term 'Gross Secondary Productivity' (GSP) refer to?
What does the term 'Gross Secondary Productivity' (GSP) refer to?
The leftover energy after producers use some of it for respiration is called _____ primary productivity.
The leftover energy after producers use some of it for respiration is called _____ primary productivity.
Match the following concepts with their definitions:
Match the following concepts with their definitions:
Which of the following accurately describes the flow of energy in an ecosystem?
Which of the following accurately describes the flow of energy in an ecosystem?
Human activities such as deforestation do not impact the carbon cycle.
Human activities such as deforestation do not impact the carbon cycle.
What happens to energy as it moves from one trophic level to another?
What happens to energy as it moves from one trophic level to another?
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Study Notes
Energy Flows in Ecosystems
- The Sun's energy drives energy and matter flows in ecosystems.
- As solar radiation enters Earth's atmosphere, some energy is absorbed by inorganic matter or reflected back, becoming unavailable for ecosystems.
- Productivity refers to the conversion of energy into biomass over a period of time.
- Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): The rate at which producers capture energy from the sun.
- Net Primary Productivity (NPP): The energy remaining after producers use some for respiration (R): NPP = GPP – R.
- Gross Secondary Productivity (GSP): The total energy assimilated by consumers, calculated by subtracting fecal loss from food consumed: GSP = Food Eaten – Fecal Loss.
- Net Secondary Productivity (NSP): The energy remaining after consumers use some for respiration: NSP = GSP – R.
- Ecological Efficiency: The percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next, typically 5-20% (average 10%).
- This means only 10% of energy captured by producers is available to herbivores.
Matter Flows in Ecosystems
- Nutrient Cycles: Matter flows through ecosystems, involving transfers, transformations, storages (sinks), and flows.
- Carbon Cycle:
- Storages: Organisms, forests (organic), atmosphere, soil, fossil fuels, oceans (inorganic).
- Flows: Consumption, death and decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, dissolving, fossilization.
- Nitrogen Cycle:
- Storages: Organisms (organic), soil, fossil fuels, atmosphere, water bodies (inorganic).
- Flows: Nitrogen fixation by bacteria and lightning, absorption, assimilation, consumption, excretion, death and decomposition, denitrification.
- Carbon Cycle:
Human Impacts on Energy and Matter Flows
- Human activities significantly impact both energy flows and nutrient cycles.
- Burning Fossil Fuels: Increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans, leading to ocean acidification and harm to marine organisms.
- Deforestation: Reduces carbon storage and alters the flow of energy through ecosystems.
- Urbanization & Agriculture: Alter energy and matter flows, leading to changes in local and global ecosystems.
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