Energy in ecosystems

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  • Created by: ChandiniS
  • Created on: 10-08-17 08:46
Aerobic respiration
Process in which substrates are oxidised into carbon dioxide and water in order to realise energy for cells.
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Amino acids
Nitrogen containing substances that form the building blocks of proteins
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Assimilation
Using the molecules produced by digestion for other purposes i.e.for building new cells
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Biomass
The total mass of organic material - usually measured when dry to correct for different amounts of water
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Carbon dioxide
Gas produced by respiration that is essential for photosynthesis
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Carnivore
An animal that derives most of its energy from eating other animals.
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Chlorophyll
Light absorbing pigment found in chloroplasts
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Chloroplast
The membrane bound organelle in plants that is the site of photosynthesis.
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Community
All the species that live together in a habitat
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Competition
Arises between individuals or species when there is a shortage of resources
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Consumer
An organism that derives its energy and nutrients from eating plants or other animals
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Decay
The process whereby bacteria and fungi break down complex organic molecules into simpler substances that they can absorb
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Decomposer
A bacterial or fungal organism that causes decay
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Decomposition
The process of decay caused by the activity of fungi and bacteria.
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Digestion
The process of breaking large insoluble food molecules into small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
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Ecological pyramid
Diagram that represents the relative levels of each organism at a particular trophic level.
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Ecosystem
A system of interacting organisms that live together in a particular habitat
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Egestion
The elimination of undigested food in the form of faeces
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Energy
This is released by respiration. It can be converted from one kind to another but is never destroyed.
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Energy flow diagram
A flow chart showing the flow of energy thrpugh an ecosystem.
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Environment
The non-biological material in an ecosystem e.g. rocks and water
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excretion
The process of the removal of toxic waste products of metabolism from the body
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Faeces
Semi-solid waste material remaining after digestion of food and absorption of water in the gut
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Fibre
Bulky material largely made of cellulose from plant cell walls. Not digested by most animals including humans. Also called roughage.
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Food chain
A simple linear diagram of feeding relationships
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Food web
A series of interacting food chaiins showing the major feeding realtionships in an ecosystem
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Habitat
The type of place where a species lives
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Kilojoule (kj)
The energy content of food is now usually measured in these units.
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Kinetic energy
The energy associated with movement
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Nutrients
Food molecules
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Nutrition
Term describing the supply of essential materials for an organism to live, grow and reproduce.
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Photosyntesis
Light-dependent chemical reaction that produces glucose from carbon dioxide and water
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population
A group of a particular species that lives and breeds together
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predator
An animal that hunts other animals for food
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Prey
An animal that is often hunted for food. Often a herbivore.
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Primary consumer
Primary consumer An animal that feeds on producers
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Producer
An organism such as a plant that can produce its own food from simple substance - usually by photosynthesis
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Protein
An important type of biological molecule used for building bodies. Polymer made of amino acids. In dietary terms it is an essential nutrient for growth and repair
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Pyramid of biomass
A way of displaying the transfer of energy in food chains starting with producers and working through the trophic levels to the top consumer
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Pyramid of numbers
A way of displaying the relationship between organisms in a food chain by displaying the number of organisms at each trophic level
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Quarternary Consumer
Fifth trophic level. Usually a top carnivore/predator.
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Respiration
Process requiring oxygen that releases energy from sugars or fats with the production of water and carbon dioxide
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Roughage
Another term for dietary fibre.
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Sankey diagram
A type of flow diagram in which the width of the arrows is proportional to the flow of energy or material. They are typically used to visualize energy or material transfers between processes
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Tertiary consumer
Fourth trophic level. Usually a predator.
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Top carnivore
Final organism in a food chain. Usually has no predators (other than man).
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Trophic level
The name given to each layer in a food chain - usually no more than five
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Nitrogen containing substances that form the building blocks of proteins

Back

Amino acids

Card 3

Front

Using the molecules produced by digestion for other purposes i.e.for building new cells

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The total mass of organic material - usually measured when dry to correct for different amounts of water

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Gas produced by respiration that is essential for photosynthesis

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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