#AP Biology: Energy Flow in Ecosystems - The Night Before Review 🚀

Hey, future biologist! Let's make sure you're feeling awesome about energy flow for tomorrow. We'll break down the key concepts, hit the high points, and get you ready to rock this exam! Remember, you've got this!

#Energy in Ecosystems: The Basics

#The Sun: The Ultimate Energy Source ☀️

• All energy on Earth comes from the sun. Photosynthetic organisms (like plants and some bacteria) convert this light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

#Energy Flow: A One-Way Street

• Energy flows through ecosystems, starting with the sun, then to producers, and then to consumers.

#Trophic Levels: Who Eats Whom?

• Trophic Level: An organism's position in the food chain, based on what it eats.
  • Autotrophs: Produce their own energy (e.g., plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria). Think: auto = self.
  • Heterotrophs: Get energy by consuming other organisms. Think: hetero = other.

Image: A simple food chain showing the flow of energy from producers to consumers.

#Energy Balance: Net Gain vs. Net Loss

• Net Gain: More energy consumed than used. Leads to growth and energy storage (fat, glycogen).
• Net Loss: More energy used than consumed. Leads to loss of mass and, eventually, death.

Jump to Maintaining Energy

#Maintaining Energy: Staying Alive and Thriving

#Endotherms vs. Ectotherms: How Organisms Manage Heat 🌡️

• Endotherms: Maintain a stable internal body temperature. (e.g., mammals, birds). Use lots of energy to do this.
• Ectotherms: Body temperature varies with the environment. (e.g., reptiles, fish). Rely on behavior to regulate temperature.

<img src="https://zupay.blob.core.windows.net/resources/files/0baca4f69800419293b4c75aa2870acd_f0da41_2826.png?alt=media&token=f9e9bb0b-7873-4427-a128-72b07800e03b" alt="Endotherm vs Ectotherm" ...