Energy input in ecosystem, Biology

Assignment Help:

Energy Input in Ecosystem

Survival and functioning of ecosystem is dependent on the input of energy. Continuous availability of energy is essential for supporting diverse ecosystem processes. For any ecosystem, the ultimate source of energy is sunlight. And as you know, it enters the ecosystem through the producers. When a primary consumer (herbivore) eats a producer, and is itself eaten by secondary consumers, we can say that energy is flowing through the ecosystem. The information provided therein, would serve you as a base material for understanding this and the subsequent sections of this unit. As you already know that the amount of solar energy received at the outer boundary of earth's atmosphere is at the rate of 2cal/cm2/min. This quantity is fixed and known as solar constant. You have also learnt that about 30 per cent often sunlight reaching the earth's atmosphere is reflected back into space, about 51 per cent is absorbed as heat by ground, vegetation or water, and about 19 per cent is absorbed by the atmosphere.

Only a small fraction of sunlight, that is, about 0.b2 per tent reaching the atmosphere is used in photosynthesis. Nevertheless; it is this small fraction on which all the organisms of the ecosystem depend. The actual amount of solar flux' received at the surface of the earth is dependent on various climatic, geographic and other environmental factors. On an average the total amount of solar energy that reaches the earth's surface is about 3,400 kcal/m2/day. It varies significantly from one place to another, for example, it decreases with latitude and its input also varies during different seasons at any given location.


Related Discussions:- Energy input in ecosystem

What is rationale for menu planning, What is Rationale for Menu Planning? ...

What is Rationale for Menu Planning? 'Menu', as we all know, is nothing but a list of dishes planned for preparation, and forms the very core of all activities in the food serv

Cell cycle, what is the process of cell cycle?

what is the process of cell cycle?

What is mitosis, What is mitosis? What is the importance of mitosis? Mi...

What is mitosis? What is the importance of mitosis? Mitosis is the process in which one eukaryotic cell separates into two cells identical to the parent cell (generally identic

Chromosomal type-genetic basis of sex determination, Chromosomal Type-Genet...

Chromosomal Type-Genetic basis of Sex Determination It refers to the condition where the genes involvcd in sex dcterrnincltion arc located on specific chromosomes known as the se

Segmentation - metazoa, Segmentation - Metazoa Segmentation or metamer...

Segmentation - Metazoa Segmentation or metamerism is the division of the body into smaller transverse compartments along the anterior-posterior axis. Segmentation is widesprea

The human population in a malaria ridden area, How does a sickle cell carri...

How does a sickle cell carrier have a benefit over the rest of the human population in a malaria ridden area? Why is organ transplantation from another person generally unsucces

What is cardio vasular examination in hheart disease, What is cardio vasula...

What is cardio vasular examination in hheart disease? Cardio-vascular examination: A thorough and systematically cardio-vascular examination provides valuable clues to the pr

Potassium sparing diuretics, The potassium-sparing agents spironolactone, t...

The potassium-sparing agents spironolactone, triamterene, and amiloride are often useful in combination with the loop diuretics and thiazides. Triamterene and amiloride act on the

What do you understand by larval amplification, What do you understand by L...

What do you understand by Larval amplification? A form of asexual reproduction where, during life cycle, a single larval organism can produce large numbers of the next developm

Disorders associated with copulation and ejaculation, Disorders associated ...

Disorders associated with copulation and ejaculation Lack of libido refers to too long “reaction time” to complete absence of sexual desire for females in standing heat. The i

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