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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Why is only a small amountof Solar energy usable by an ecosystem? |
Producers do not intake allsolar energy, due to transmission, reflection, or the light energy being thewrong wavelength. |
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What energy is available to organisms in the next trophic level? |
Energy that has been used to synthesis molecules that become the tissues of the organisms. |
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What energy isn't available to organisms in the next trophic level? |
Energy lost as heat through various processese.g. Respiration |
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Define Gross Production. |
Amount of energy an organism absorbed and can be converted into organic molecules |
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Define Net Production. |
Amount of energy actually used for organic molecules to be stored for growth, after some has been lost in respiration. |
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What is the equation that links NP and GP? |
NP = GP - Energy 'lost' in respiration |
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How is energy 'lost' in primary consumers? |
In faeces, in urine, released as heat during respiration. |
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Why is energy transfer so low between Producers to primary consumers? |
Not all plant biomass is digestible, so energy stored in it isn't absorbed. Not all the biomass is even consumed. |
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Why is the energy transfer between Primary and Secondary consumers more efficient than Primary consumers and Producers? |
Animal tissue is more digestible than plant tissue. Animal tissue has a higher energy value. |
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How is energy lost between Primary consumers and Secondary consumers? |
Indigestible biomass e.g. Hooves, not all biomass is consumed, some Primary consumer energy is lost in excretory materials. |
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Why is energy transfer more efficient between invertebrates than mammals? |
Mammals lose more energy to respiration in order to maintain body heat. Less energy stored in biomass to pass on to next trophic level. |
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What is the usual limit of trophic levels in an ecosystem? |
3/4 |
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Why isn't it possible for trophic levels to continue indefinitely? |
Energy transfer becomes so minimal at higher levels that there isn't enough energy to sustain more levels. |
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What is the average efficiency of energy transfer between levels? |
~10% |
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What is the equation for Energy Transfer? |
Energy available after transfer / Energy available before transfer x 100 |
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Suggest why Energy transfer is low between carnivores. |
Carnivores have to expend more energy in respiration in order to catch prey. Therefore, less energy available in biomass for higher trophic levels. |
