Lesson 2: Energy in Ecosystems

1. Lesson 1 Review: Key terms review

Term	Description
Sustainability	An ecosystems ability to maintain balance
Abiotic	The non-living components of an environment
Biotic	The living components of an environment
Ecological Niche	The way in which a species interacts with its environment
Habitat	The physical area where a species inhabits
Biosphere	Where you find living things on earth
Ecosystems	A group of living things interacting with each other and their non-living environment
Biome	An area classified by the species that live in in that areas
Community	Different populations interacting with one another
Lithosphere	Earths solid outer layer
Population	A group of individuals of the same species living together in the same area
Hydrosphere	All of earths water in all forms
Individual	A single organism
Atmosphere	The layer of gas surrounding the earth

Lesson 1: Introduction to Ecosystems.

2. Energy sources review

The energy source for most ecosystems on earth is the sun
All organisms require energy to stay alive and function
There are a few exceptions life ecosystems found at the bottom of the ocean

2.1. Types of energy

2.1.1. Solar Energy

Radiant energy is both absorbed and reflected by the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere and is converted into thermal energy

30% is reflected by clouds and earths surface
19% Is absorbed by the atmospehre and clouds
51% is absorbed by land and ocean
0.023% is absorbed by photosynthesis

2.1.2. Thermal Energy

Thermal energy is what warms the earth.

Produces winds
Evaporates water

3. Photosynthesis

3.1. What is Photosynthesis?

Plants capture the suns energy and turn into into chemical energy using a process called photosynthesis.
The take in Sunlight, Carbon Dioxide, and output Chemical energy along with oxygen
Most organisms get their energy from the sun
This reaction occurs in the Chloroplast

3.1.1. TODO Photosynthesis equation fc REVIEW

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Light Energy + CO₂ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ The word equation is:

Light energy + carbon dioxide + water → glucose (sugar) + oxygen

The sugars are stored in the organisms that produce them. In plants it is stored in the roots, stems, and leaves.

3.2. Why do plants photosynthesize

Plants need to convert solar energy → chemical energy
Thermal energy keeps the surface warm but cannot provide organisms with the energy they need to grow and function
In order for solar energy to be used by living things it has to be converted into chemical energy The name of this chemical energy is glucose. This is the stored chemical energy.
Chemical energy is used by all organisms to perform functions.

3.2.1. Key Takeaway

Energy from sunlight can be used but it cannot be stored. Chemical energy can however be stored in cells.

4. Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is the opposite of Photosynthesis

4.1. TODO Cellular respiration Equation :fc:REVIEW

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C₆H₁₂O₆+O₂→ CO₂+H₂O+energy

glucose plus oxygen yields carbon dioxide plus water plus energy (ATP)

5. Releasing Energy

Stored energy in sugars is released by cells to do all their activities. This process is called cellular respiration.
All organisms do cellular respiration in order to use the suns energy. Even plants, although they do it less than us.

6. TODO Classifications of organisms

6.1. Producers

Producers make their own energy

6.2. Consumers

Consumers are organisms that must consume organisms to obtain their energy.

Different sub categories:
- Herbivores
- Omnivores
- Carnivores
- …
Examples
- Duck

6.3. Decomposers

Different sub categories
- Scavengers
- Detritivores …
Examples:
- Crabs Crabs eat the things at the bottom of the ocean
- Fungi
- Vultures ..

7. Autotrophs & Heterotrophs

7.1. Autotrophs

Make their own food.
Producers are considered autotrophs

Comes the from the greek root auto meaning self and troph meaning nourishment

8. Questions FLASHCARDS

8.1. Where does most energy for living things come from? fc

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The energy source for most ecosystems on earth is the sun

Energy sources

8.2. How much solar energy is used by plants? fc

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*0.023% is absorbed by photosynthesis*

How much solar energy is used by plants?

8.3. What form of energy do plants convert the sun’s energy into? fc

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Plants capture the suns energy and turn into into chemical energy using a process called photosynthesis.

What form of energy do plants convert the sun’s energy into?

8.4. Write the word and chemical equation for photosynthesis. fc

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Light Energy + CO2 + H2O \to  C6H12O6 + O2
The word equation is:
#+BEGIN_QUOTE
Light energy + carbon dioxide + water \to glucose (sugar) + oxygen
#+END_QUOTE

Photosynthesis equation

8.5. Which molecule from photosynthesis stores the sun’s energy for use by living things? fc

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Glucose

- In order for solar energy to be used by living things it has to be converted into _chemical energy_
  The name of this chemical energy is _glucose_. This is the stored chemical energy.

Why do plants photosynthesize

8.6. What process uses stored chemical energy for cells to carry out their functions? fc

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- Stored energy in sugars is released by cells to do all their activities. This process is called cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

8.7. Write the word and chemical equation for cellular respiration. fc

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C6H12O6+O2\to CO2+H2O+energy
#+BEGIN_QUOTE
 glucose plus oxygen yields carbon dioxide plus water plus energy (ATP)
#+END_QUOTE

Cellular respiration Equation

8.8. Which organisms get their energy in the following ways? Give examples of each from the image below. fc

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Energy Source	Type of Organism	Example
Eating other organisms for Energy	Consumers	Duck
Eating remains of dead organisms	Decomposers	Vultures
Make their own energy	Producers	Plants/Trees

9. Elsewhere

9.1. References

9.2. In my garden

Notes that link to this note (AKA backlinks).