Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
a) Transformation of solar energy into food energy/chemical energy
The source of energy in an ecosystem is the sun; solar energy initiates photosynthesis, powers bio geo chemical cycles, drives climates and weather systems, distributes heat and fresh water over the earth’s surface. Thus, solar energy is the basic input of energy entering the ecosystems.
Photo-autotrophs (green plants, algae and bacteria) receive radiant energy and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The transformed energy is stored in the cells of the autotrophs (primary producers) and it becomes the source of energy to other organisms in the trophic levels.
As energy is transferred (energy flow) from one trophic level to the other, a portion of it is lost through respiration in form of heat. Energy flow is the movement of energy in an ecosystem; from external source, through series of organisms and back to the environment.
marto answered the question on March 20, 2019 at 07:12
- Briefly explain the ecological pyramids.(Solved)
Briefly explain the ecological pyramids.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Define food web.(Solved)
Define food web.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Define Food chains.(Solved)
Define Food chains.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Briefly explain the Ecosystem structure.(Solved)
Briefly explain the Ecosystem structure.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Define the following terms
-Species
-Population
...(Solved)
Define the following terms
-Species
-Population
-Community
-Ecosystem
-Biome
-Biosphere
-Ecology
-Habitat
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain the Stockholm conference.(Solved)
Explain the Stockholm conference.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- List the environmental problems cited when people started forming organisations, demonstrations and movements in defense of the environment.(Solved)
List the environmental problems cited when people started forming organisations, demonstrations and movements in defense of the environment.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain the historical origin of environmental education.(Solved)
Explain the historical origin of environmental education.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Outline the biotic and abiotic features of the environment.(Solved)
Outline the biotic and abiotic features of the environment.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)
- Define the basic concepts of Environment and science.(Solved)
Define the basic concepts of Environment and science.
Date posted: March 20, 2019. Answers (1)