All Flashcards
What is solar energy?
The ultimate source of energy for almost all ecosystems.
What are producers?
Organisms that convert solar energy into chemical energy (glucose) through photosynthesis.
What are herbivores?
Organisms that eat producers.
What are carnivores?
Organisms that eat herbivores or other carnivores.
What are decomposers?
Organisms that break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients.
What is chemical energy?
The form of energy that moves through the trophic pyramid.
What is cellular respiration?
The process that converts glucose into usable chemical energy (ATP) and releases thermal energy.
What is entropy?
A measure of disorder in a system; it increases every time energy is transformed.
What is the First Law of Thermodynamics?
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.
What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
Every time energy is transformed, entropy (disorder) increases.
What is the 10% rule?
Only about 10% of energy from one trophic level moves up to the next.
Define Trophic Level
Each step in a food chain or food web.
Define solar energy.
The ultimate source of energy for almost all ecosystems.
Define trophic levels.
The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, representing the transfer of energy.
Define producers.
Organisms (like plants) that convert solar energy into chemical energy.
Define photosynthesis.
The process by which producers convert solar energy into glucose.
Define herbivores.
Organisms that eat producers (plants).
Define carnivores.
Organisms that eat herbivores or other carnivores.
Define decomposers.
Organisms that break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients.
Define cellular respiration.
The process that converts glucose into usable chemical energy (ATP).
Define entropy.
A measure of disorder in a system; it increases with energy transformations.
Define chemical energy.
Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.
What is the ultimate source of energy for most ecosystems?
Solar energy.
Why are energy transformations never 100% efficient?
Some energy is always lost as heat.
What happens to energy that ecosystems don't use?
It is lost to the environment.
What is the significance of the First Law of Thermodynamics?
It explains why energy transfers are not 100% efficient and sets the stage for understanding the second law of thermodynamics.
How does the Second Law of Thermodynamics affect ecosystems?
It explains why only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.
Why do top predators need large territories?
To find enough food, due to the 10% rule and energy loss at each trophic level.
What is the role of photosynthesis?
To convert solar energy into chemical energy (glucose).
What is the role of cellular respiration?
To convert glucose into usable chemical energy (ATP) and release thermal energy.
What are the implications of the 10% rule?
It explains why top predators need large territories to find enough food and why energy availability decreases at higher trophic levels.
How does energy flow through the trophic pyramid?
From producers to herbivores to carnivores, with decomposers recycling nutrients.