Why isnt most of the suns energy not converted to organic matter by photosynthesis?
Suns energy reflected back into space by clouds and dust - not all wavelengths of light can be absorbed by plants - factor may limit rate of photosynthesis
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What is gross production?
The total quantity of energy that the plants in a community convert to organic matter.
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What is net production?
Gross production - respiratory losses
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What causes a low percentage of energy transferred at each stage of a food chain?
Not all of the organism is eaten - some parts cannot be digested (lost in faeces) - energy lost in excretory materials - respiratory losses
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Why do most food chains only have 4/5 trophic levels?
Insufficient energy is available to support a large enough breeding population at higher trophic levels
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Equation for energy transfer
Energy available after the transfer divided by energy available before x 100
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is gross production?
Back
The total quantity of energy that the plants in a community convert to organic matter.
Card 3
Front
What is net production?
Back
Card 4
Front
What causes a low percentage of energy transferred at each stage of a food chain?
Back
Card 5
Front
Why do most food chains only have 4/5 trophic levels?
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