Module 6 - Ecosystems (S6: 1-4)
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What is the definition of an ecosystem?
All the organisms living in a particular area and all the non-living (abiotic) conditions found there
What is the definition of consumer?
An organism that eats other organisms
What is the definition of a producer?
An organism that produces organic molecules using sunlight energy
What type of system is an ecosystem?
Dynamic system
Give 2 examples of biotic factors?
Predation Food availability Competition Disease
Give 3 examples of abiotic factors?
Temperature Rainfall Soil nutrients Light Humidity
What is the definition of a habitat?
A place where organisms live
What is the main route by which energy enters an ecosystem?
Photosynthesis
How does some energy enter sea ecosystems?
Bacteria use chemicals from deep sea vents as energy sources
How do plants store energy?
As biomass
What is biomass?
The mass of living materials
Herbivores are normally what type of consumer?
Primary
What type of consumers are normally carnivores?
Secondary and tertiary
What do food webs and chains show?
How energy is transferred through an ecosystem
What is the definition of a tropic level?
A stage in a food chain that’s occupied by a particular group of organisms
What is the definition of a decomposer?
An organism that breaks down dead or undigested organic matter
What percentage of energy is transferred between tropic levels?
10%
Why isn’t available energy taken up by the organism? Give 2 examples?
Plants can’t use all the light energy that reaches the leaves Some sunlight can’t be used because it hits part of the plant that cannot photosynthesis Some parts of food are indigestible eg. Bones or roots
What percentage of available energy is never taken in by the organism?
60%
What is the definition of gross productivity?
The energy available to organisms that is absorbed by them
What is the definition of respiratory loss?
The amount of energy lost to the environment when organisms use energy produced from respiration for movement or body heat
What is the definition of net productivity?
The amount of energy that’s available to the next trophic level in a food chain
What percentage of energy is respiratory loss?
30%
What is the calculation for net productivity?
Gross productivity - respiratory loss