Energy flow in the ecosystem, Science

Assignment Help:

Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

The principal source of  energy for any ecosystem is sunlight. All food materials that we or other animals consume are manufactured directly or indirectly by plants. Think of your breakfast, bread  is made of a cereal that  is produced from plant material, egg from hen which has fed on plant products; and milk from cow which has consumed grass or fodder derived from plants. In a nutshell, the energy that we obtain from plants either by  burning wood or by  eating them, represents the solar energy trapped by  the plants. We are dependent on the stored resources of solar energy. When we eat meat, we obtain energy that had been stored by plants several years before and then  taken up by an  animal like a goat through grazing. When we cut firewood for fuel, we obtain energy accumulated and stored by trees for perhaps a century or more. When we bum coal or petroleum, we obtain solar energy stored by  plant life, millions of years ago. Now  let us  trace the energy flow through an ecosystem. This is represented diagramatically in Fig.  

 

1349_Energy Flow in the Ecosystem.png

Notice that the energy from the producer to the last level has decreased considerably. The energy passed on to the next trophic level is represented by  letter E of  three different sizes, each by  its size indicates the comparative  amount of  energy. The arrows in the upper half of the diagram indicate  the loss of energy in the form of heat given out by different organisms. The arrows in the lower half  show the energy loss via the wastes secreted and energy trapped in dead bodies of  the organisms. Decomposers use these wastes and dead bodies as sources of  food and derive energy from them. They also give out some unused heat energy. Energy flowing through an ecosystem is thus first captured by  the producers. From the producers the energy passes to various consumers, via food. At  the end of the chain we  find that very  little energy is left for the last trophic level, because some energy is always lost in going from one level to the next. This loss of energy limits the number of trophic levelsin the ecosystem,  and so they are seldom more than five. This also clearly shows  that why  the steps  in a food chain are limited to four or five.  


Related Discussions:- Energy flow in the ecosystem

Weighing moisture again, Weighing moisture again The similar experiment...

Weighing moisture again The similar experiment can be done with a bath towel. Wet the towel and wring it out. Hang it on a coat hanger. Hang the coat hanger on single end of a

Explain the acid/base balance of our blood changes, Explain the acid/base b...

Explain the acid/base balance of our blood changes This acid/base balance of our blood changes in response to many things. These include: Diet: the diets that are rich in

Iron age, explain the factors that led to the decline of science in europe ...

explain the factors that led to the decline of science in europe during iron age

Anatomy Physiology, upright, turn around 180 degrees to face opposite direc...

upright, turn around 180 degrees to face opposite direction Take several steps forward. Reach forward and grasp a door knob Turn a door knob 180 degrees clockwise Sit down in a cha

Explain residual volume and functional residual capacity, Explain Residual ...

Explain Residual Volume and Functional Residual Capacity Residual Volume (RV): It is the volume of air that remains in the lungs after maximal expiration. The average volume

Dental clinic-office business manager, Dental Clinic Case Study A clin...

Dental Clinic Case Study A clinic with three dentists and several dental hygienists needed a system to help administer patient records. This system keeps patient details and m

Motion, motion is a change in what

motion is a change in what

Determine the number of photons incident on water phantom, a. A 2 mm diamet...

a. A 2 mm diameter parallel beam of photons each with energy of 100 keV is incident on a water phantom of thickness 15 cm. If the exit exposure is 2 mR (caused by primary photons),

Separating mixture, laboratory apparatus for separating mixture

laboratory apparatus for separating mixture

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd