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

Explain 2nd type of hypersensitivity, It is IgG mediated cytotoxic hyperse...

It is IgG mediated cytotoxic hypersensitivity. Typical manifestations contain erythroblastosis fetalis, hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion reactions etc.

Respiration, lesson plan practical requirements

lesson plan practical requirements

Animals - slow moving waters, Animals - Slow Moving Waters Zooplankton...

Animals - Slow Moving Waters Zooplankton are common here and include an assemblage of protozoa and smaller crustacean, such as water flies, and copepods. Neuston occurring her

How to dna fragments for comparison with other dna samples, DNA fingerprint...

DNA fingerprinting produces a unique banding pattern of DNA fragments for comparison with other DNA samples.

Diseases, what are the sources of infection (human, animal and non-living r...

what are the sources of infection (human, animal and non-living reservoirs), the routes of transmission (way in which the infection spreads) and different ways in which micro-organ

What are cotyledons, What are cotyledons? Cotyledons, or seed leaves, a...

What are cotyledons? Cotyledons, or seed leaves, are structures formed by the embryo of angiosperms to absorb nutrients from the endosperm and to keep and transfer these nutrie

Defition of soap, what SOAP is: Subjective - The data includes informa...

what SOAP is: Subjective - The data includes information obtained from the patient or the patient's family regarding the problem. Objective dat a - the data is gathered  f

Biophysics, you are setting up a pcr reaction to amplify a 1000 basepair lo...

you are setting up a pcr reaction to amplify a 1000 basepair long dna grament. in your 50 microliter reaction volume you have 100 nanogrM OD RWMPLrw sn QIRH eoufly 50/50 at/gc 100

Explain the localized aggressive periodontitis, Explain the Localized Aggre...

Explain the Localized Aggressive Periodontitis Localized Aggressive Periodontitis: It has been in literature that transmission of peridontopathic microorganisms from periodon

Explain the basal metabolic rate, Explain the Basal Metabolic Rate? The...

Explain the Basal Metabolic Rate? The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) gradually decreases after the attainment of maturity due to a decrease in muscle mass tissues and physical acti

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