The Living World: Ecosystems

Conservation of energy in a closed system

Increase in entropy and loss of energy as it changes forms

Efficient energy transfer in ecosystems

Transformation of thermal energy into chemical energy

Large multinational corporations with extensive industrial agricultural operations.

Individual consumers focused on reducing personal carbon footprints.

Government policymakers working on urban land use planning.

Local farmers markets promoting regional produce over imported goods.

It increases alkalinity due to enhanced carbonate buffering systems.

It has minimal impact on pH but increases water temperature significantly.

It causes a decrease in dissolved oxygen leading directly to lower pH levels.

It leads to ocean acidification by increasing the amount of dissolved carbonic acid.

A field mouse only gains a small fraction of energy from the plants it eats due to metabolic processes and heat loss.

Algae reproduce at a faster rate when there is an increase in nutrients leading to an abundance of fish food supply.

A sunflower absorbs more than half the sun's energy for photosynthesis during peak daylight hours.

An owl becomes stronger by consuming several field mice because it gains all their stored energy.

Shifting dietary preferences toward plant-based sources.

Developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that produce more meat.

Enhancing food distribution channels from producers directly to consumers.

Importing exotic animal species with higher growth rates.

Carnivores that prey on other animals (secondary consumers).

Plants and algae that produce their own food (producers).

Herbivores that eat plants or algae (primary consumers).

Bacteria and fungi that break down dead organic material (decomposers).

Corn-fed beef waste products

Algae grown for biofuel

Wood chips from mature trees

Wheat straw from cereal crops

It increases

It lost as heat waste

It preserved

It converted into mass

2 kcal

20 kcal

200 kcal

400 kcal

Implementing no-till farming practices

Installing solar panels

Fertilizer application on agricultural fields

Building urban green spaces