Ecology

Source

Sun

• Energy is lost to surroundings
• Not going back to source/producer (non-cyclic)

Definition

Producer

• chlorophyll + photosynthesis
• light energy => chemical energy (glucose)
• 1st tropic level in food chain (named example)

Consumer

• Gain energy + eating
• 2nd, 3rd consumer

Decomposers

• Secrete enzyme + sewage organic matter => inorganic (nitrate ion)
• eg. Bateria, Fungi
• dead matter to release the carbon compound (carbon cycle)

Tropic level

• feeding position in the food chain

Food Chain

Linear

• network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms and ending at an apex predator species
• How organisms are related by the food they eat

Food webs

• inter-linked food chains

Energy

Enter

• producer
• photosynthesis

Loss 90%

• respiration + energy (heat)
• energy is used (cell division, active transport)
• uneaten part
• faeces (digestion) + urine (excretion)

Passed Down 10%

• Cells / protoplasm

Energy efficiency

Short Chain

• producer => man
• more efficient (less energy lost)

Long Chain

• producer => cow => man
• less efficient

Pyramid

Number

Upright

Inverted

Biomass

• Always upright

Carbon Cycle

Producer

• CO2 take in => producer => CO2 released

Decomposition

Respiration

Carbon Sink

• CO2 take in > CO2 released
• Long period of time

Forest and Ocean

• Photosynthesis, take in CO2
• Glucose + food chain
• cellulose +
• fossil fuel

Sewage

Bacteria (flowing river)

• Used up O2 due to respiration
• O2 decrease, fish die

Eutrophication (lake)

• Nitrate ion
• Algae multiply, block sunlight
• Underneath plant die + bacteria multiply
• fish die

Bioaccumulation

• Insecticide
• eaten by a list of organisms
• Insecticide will pass down to next tropic level
• accumulate at the highest tropic level (tertiary consumers)

Sewage treatment plant

Aerobic bacteria

• Stirrer + mix + oxygen + bacteria
• Secrete enzyme + organic matter

Anaerobic bacteria

• eg. fungi algae
• sludge => methane => electricity