Question

Ecologists consider light energy, heat energy, and chemical energy when studying energy flow in an ecosystem. Using these three terms, describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem. Make sure to name the processes that transform energy and at least 2 trophic levels.

Answer 1

sun release light energy,some of it is captured by primary producers(plants,first trophic level),rest flow as heat energy.they are consumed by primary consumers(herbivores,second trophic level),which are

Energy flow is unidirectional.

Light energy(from sunlight) is the only source energy for all ecosystem on earth.light energy is converted to chemical energy in carbon compounds by photosynthesis.

Energy released from carbon compounds by respiration is used in the living organisms and converted to heat.

Heat cannot be converted to another form of energy by living organism.

There are two processes that control the energy flow,they are :

Photosynthesis and respiration.

Photosynthesis stores energy from sunlight and Respiration release the energy.

The amount of energy decreses at each tropic level,only 10%of energy is transfered to next trophic level,rest of it lost as heat energy.

eg: The energy flow at trophic level is consumed by secondary consumer (carnivores,third trophic level),tertiary consumers (top carnivores,fourth trophic level),decomposers respectively.in each level 90% of energy is lost as heat energy.

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