ENERGY FLOW THROUGH AN ECOSTSTEM
Energy Flow through an Ecosystem
When you stop to think about the earth we live on, you begin to realize how much of it we take for granted. The planet earth is teaming with millions of living organisms and countless mountain tops. This way of thinking could also lead you to ask the questions, “Where did our major source of energy come from?” To answer the questions, most living things depend on the sun as their ultimate energy source. Let me elaborate on that point more, what we have going on, on earth is more or less a system. A system is defined as a network of independent components and processes, with materials and energy flowing from one component of the system to another (McGraw-Hill, 2013).
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The hydrogen atom in the water molecule can form bonds with other molecules (Craig). Add That along with the ability to dissolve in other substances; water has the ability to transport minerals and waste products in plants and animals. All these different things give water the ability to hold oxygen for animal life and Carbon dioxide for plants. Now to take a step back and discuss in more detail about the other beings that are a part of the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Let’s begin with the primary producer. Primary producers create carbohydrates along with other compounds using just sunlight, air, and water (McGraw-Hill, 2013). Consumers, however, are anything in an ecosystem that eats something else in order to survive. An example of this would be a wolf eating a deer, and a deer eating grass. The final factor in an ecosystem would be the decomposers. The decomposers slowly tear the previous living organisms into the soil in the ground thus continuing the flow of energy. It begins with the grass growing through photosynthesis. The process then moves onward to the deer consuming the grass. Energy is not lost in this process however. The deer is then consumed by a wolf which absorbs all of the previous organism’s energy. When the wolf expires, it is returned into the ground taking all the energy with it, but changing it to the
Each step in a food chain is a “trophic level” because of the energy transfer between them which can be shown in energy pyramids. All of the energy that passes on originally comes from the sun before moving through the order of the trophic levels, which is from producers to primary consumers to secondary consumers, then eventually to tertiary consumers. Although, as one lifeform eats another for energy, only 10% transfers to the next level because that 90% is used to “carry out the functions of living, such as producing new cells, regulating body temperature, and moving,” or for other necessary tasks. These transfers through eating are important since they help maintain ecosystems like the Everglades Hardwood Hammock. (Arms,
Solar energy is the most ancient kind of energy found on earth, for it is as old as the sun. "Solar" means from the sun. The earth is only one of the many planets which is bathed in the sun's overflowing energy. Every second the world receives 95.8 trillion watts of power…just think about that for a minute. Think about how much power the earth just received in the time it took you to read this sentence? It is well beyond the amount of power used in one day. It has the potential to satisfy all our energy needs forever without ever having to use the pollutive fossil fuels ever again. "The problem however, does not lie in the limited source, as do fossil fuels, but in harnessing
Hydrogen bonds contribute to a property of water called cohesion or the tendency of water molecules to stick together.
Decomposers process a large amount of organic material and return nutrients to the ecosystem in inorganic form, which are then taken up again by primary producers. Energy is not recycled during decomposition, but rather is released, mostly in heat. (Annenberg Learner, n.d)
the sun is a great and appendant source of energy, it's called solar energy. Solar panels were
As the energy moves through the system, nutrients also travel through the levels of the food chain through the predator prey feeding cycle active in the food chain. To summarize the nutrients are cycled through the food web and the energy is not.
(Click Slide) Another unique property of water is its high specific heat capacity. Due to the strong hydrogen bonds that exist between water molecules, a lot of energy is needed to break down the bonds. As the Particle Theory states, particles move faster and further apart when heated. This is why water helps maintains a moderate temperature on Earth and different bodies of water, crucial for the survival of organisms.
The tundra is an ecosystem that has consumers, decomposer, food chain and producers so that is the stuff that I know about tundra ecosystem so let's get started with The tundra ecosystem facts about the tundra ecosystem.
In order for an ecosystem to stay an ecosystem there are three aspects that interact with each other:
Most of the processes that are critical for our day-to-day lives are driven by energy provided by the Sun. Energy from the Sun warms the planet and keeps the global temperature within a range that allows life to flourish. The energy stored in the food you eat can be traced back to the Sun, through the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. You might think that the gasoline that makes your car run or the oil that
Everyone uses a lot of power for lighting, heating, machines, movements, and so much more. All of that energy has to come from an energy supply. Some energy resources are renewable, while others are non-renewable. Energy has various forms and is a very essential part of our everyday lives.
Water is essential for life as we know it on earth. It is used by plants
For many years, energy has been a need for people everywhere. What has become of the world today is due to the revolution in energy use. There are two types of energy non-renewables and sources-renewables. An example of a non-renewable is coal and it is a great type of fossil fuel the reason being is because it is a reliable source of electricity. Examples of renewables are wind,water and solar power. Renewables can be recovered and reused while on another hand a non-renewables can not be used again. Coal has been used for thousands of years archaeologists discovered that coal was used even in the second and third centuries by the Romans. Solar power is a renewable source since it’s powered by the sun. It can be changed into other forms for example both heat and electricity can come directly from the sun. The sun’s power has been used for a lifetime to heat up our homes, water (to drink and bathe), and our food as well. Both energy sources-coal and solar-are quite reliable resources, and are used very much. As worldwide energy sources, coal and solar power share similarities and differences when it comes to having a huge impact on the environment the world's economic status within how much money we profit from them and human health such as increased lung cancer rates.
The fact that most small biological molecules dissolve in water is very important because all the chemical reactions that take place in cells do so in aqueous solution. Plants cam only obtain mineral salts in solution and human digestion will only dissolve soluble foods, meaning large starch molecules must be broken down into soluble sugars. Also many organisms living in water spend most of their time underwater, yet they require oxygen to respire, and as water is such a good solvent the required oxygen gas is dissolved in water. Water’s solvent properties also allow it to act as a transport medium for polar solutes for example the movement of minerals to lakes and seas and removal of metabolic wastes such as urea and ammonia in urine. Water’s thermal properties relate to its heat capacity.
Solar energy is the most plentiful and purist renewable energy source available. Because it is completely natural, it is considered to be a clean energy source. It does not disrupt the environment or threaten the Eco-systems the way oil and some other energy sources tend to. Nor does it cause greenhouse gases, air or water pollution. Solar energy is an immensely important aspect of life and has been since the beginning of time. Increasingly, we are learning how to harness this important resource and use it to replace traditional energy sources. Modern technology can utilize this energy in a variety of ways, such as; generating electricity, providing light or a comfortable interior environment, and heating water for domestic, industrial, or commercial use. One day solar energy may well become our primary form of energy. This would lead to a clean environment, less money spent on utilities, and a healthier world. It is highly important because it has the potential to allow technology and nature to co-exist peacefully.