Energy flow in an eco-systems, Biology

Assignment Help:

The capacity to do work is known as energy. In an ecosystem energy flows through one organism to another in the form of food. The flow of energy is uni-direction and non cycle and governed by laws of thermodynamics.

1.       Energy can neither be created nor can be destroyed but may convert into different forms.

2.       Energy Transfer is always accompanied by its dispersion. The second law of thermodynamics says that when energy is changed from one form to another, some of it is lost in the form of heat.

In an ecosystem the solar energy is trapped and stored by; producers (plants) in the form of chemical energy: producers form first trophic level and pass this energy to primary consumer is unidirectional and at successive trophic level the amount of energy decreases.

Green plants capture only a small fraction of solar energy(<5% of total solar radiation) and bulk of un-utilized energy is dissipated in the form of heat. Some of this energy is used by green plants for their respiration and maintenance and rest is convened into food which is eaten by herbivores. It has been estimated that herbivores use only 10% of the gross productivity of producers.

The herbivories use a part of this energy for their growth and maintenance and rest is given out as fecal matter. When carnivores eat herbivores they get only 10% of herbivores energy. The net energy keeps on decreasing with the increase of trophic level.

Only 10% of energy of a trophic level is transferred to higher trophic level. This is known as 10% law.

 

 


Related Discussions:- Energy flow in an eco-systems

Lipid profile, Abnormalities in the lipid profile are found in patients wit...

Abnormalities in the lipid profile are found in patients with diabetes mellitus. The lipid abnormalities increase the risk of heart disease in diabetics and hence should be regular

Explain therapeutic nutrition, Explain therapeutic  nutrition This ne...

Explain therapeutic  nutrition This necessitates dietitian's possessing a wide variety of skills. Beyond the technical knowledge and practical skills dietitians needs to have

The process of glycolysis produces, In the presence of oxygen, the process ...

In the presence of oxygen, the process of glycolysis produces which of the following products? A) 2 glycerol B) 1 lactate C) 2 lactate D) 2 pyruvate E) 1 pyruvate

Find which of the following is most stable, Hydrogen ( h) has 1 electron; C...

Hydrogen ( h) has 1 electron; Carbon ( c) has 6 electrons, use the octet rule to determine which of the following is most stable. Note: some of these may have double bonds. A. O

Reverse osmosis, Ordinary osmosis cannot be used to purify water. If the ap...

Ordinary osmosis cannot be used to purify water. If the applied pressure exceeds osmotic pressure then water starts moving from solution side to pure solvent side. This is reverse

In how many form glycogen synthase exists, Glycogen  synthase exists  in t...

Glycogen  synthase exists  in two forms:   the phosphorylated form designated  as  'D' form is the  inactive one and  the dephoshorylated form designated as  'I'  form is the activ

What do you mean by acute pericarditis, What do you mean by Acute Pericardi...

What do you mean by Acute Pericarditis? Ans. Acute pericarditis is defined as acute inflammation of the pericardium and is clinically characterized by chest pain, fever, t

What are the common congenital heart disease, Q. What are the Common congen...

Q. What are the Common congenital heart disease? Fossa Ovalis ASD Commonest defect is fossa ovalis ASD. It can be closed by devices. ASD should be sized in various views

Selection according to endemic species richness, An alternative approach ha...

An alternative approach has been to identify areas with the highest number of endemics or species with a restricted geographical range. Assessments of this nature have been very of

What is the kind of life cycle present in pteridophytes, Q. What is the kin...

Q. What is the kind of life cycle present in pteridophytes? Like all plants pteridophytes present diplobiontic (alternation of metagenesis or generations,) life cycle.

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