Biology Unit 2 Energy Flows

Energy Pyramids

• The sun is the main source of energy for all life
• The first way this is shown is through plants in photosynthesis.
• The mass of living material (biomass) is lessened at each stage of a food chain.

Energy Loss

• Energy is lost through faeces, heating the body and movement.
• Energy loss can be lessened by reducing the amount of stages in the food chain.
• Battery farming will make sure animals don't lose energy as heat or through movement.

• Living organisms take material from the environment as they live, when they die this is given back.
• Microorganisms decompose dead material and digest it.
• The best conditions for microorganisms like these to work is warm and moist.
• Plants need some nutrients to grow, they are given some of these by other organisms dying and decomposers returning the material to the ground.
• In theory, there is an equal amount of material entering the ground than being removed from it.

Taking Carbon away from the atmosphere

• Photosynthesis

Giving Carbon back

• Respiration
• Death of organisms
• Burning of fossil fuels