Energy in Biomass

Energy comes from the sun, absorbed by plants, eaten by animals/ humans

• Producer- Cabbage
• Primary consumer (Herbivore)- Ladybird
• Secondary consumer (Carnivore)- Cow

Biomass is the dry mass of a living organism

The total mass of each stage of a food chain is less than at the previous stage

The biomasses of each stage can be drawn a a pyramid

Energy is lost:

• As movement
• As heat (respiration)
• As excretion etc.

Mammals use more heat/ energy than fish because they are warmer

Energy losses in food chains:

• Energy from the Sun is absorbed by the leaf
• Most of the light is reflected back into the atmosphere
• Some of the absorbed energy is used form growth, heat etc.

• Living organisms die
• Maggots and woodlice grow and feed on the dead organisms
• They release carbon dioxide and water
• Bacteria and fungi release enzymes onto the waste, then absorb the nutrients
• They release carbon dioxide and water

Living organisms remove materials from the environment as the grow. When they die and decay, the materials are returned

Compost:

• Used to give nutrients to the soil for plants
• Bacteria breaks down the grass to create carbon dioxide and water

Sewage:

• Used to clean water and get rid of human waste
• The liquid is sprinkled over a rock with holes containing living bacteria that disolve it
• Clean water, carbon dioxide and water is produced

Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis

It is returned through respiration and combustion