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

Zoology, general characters of cylintreta

general characters of cylintreta

Observing the phases of the moon, Observing the phases of the moon Over...

Observing the phases of the moon Over the time of a lunar month have the children make nightly observations and illustrate drawings of the moon. Start at new moon and continue

Describe, QUESTION (A) Describe, with diagram, the structure of a neuro...

QUESTION (A) Describe, with diagram, the structure of a neuron (B) ‘Neurons are specialized cells that carry messages.' Describe how messages are carried by neurons (C) F

Friction, (friction is necessery evil)

(friction is necessery evil)

Vitamins, Vitamins: You are, probably, familiar with the names of some ...

Vitamins: You are, probably, familiar with the names of some of the vitamins. They can be obtained from plant and animal foods. Vitamins are required in small amounts and their

Explain the physiology of lactation, Explain the Physiology of Lactation ...

Explain the Physiology of Lactation Lactogenesis is the onset of copious milk secretion around parturition, triggered by a fall in plasma progesterone levels. Although some col

How soap acts towards fat, How soap acts towards fat Prepare another ja...

How soap acts towards fat Prepare another jar with warm water and oil just as you did in the experiment above. This time add about half a cup of either liquid soap or strong so

Explain the term - hydrolysis yield ammonium ion, Explain the term - hydrol...

Explain the term - hydrolysis yield ammonium ion In addition to ammonium compounds, materials such as urea which, upon hydrolysis yield ammonium ion, are again a potential sour

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