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The chemical energy of food is the main source of energy required by all living organisms. This energy is transmitted to different trophic levels along the food chain. This energy flow is based on two different laws of thermodynamics:
Energy Flow in EcosystemThe energy flow in the ecosystem is one of the major factors that support the survival of such a great number of organisms. For almost all organisms on earth, the primary source of energy is solar energy. It is amusing to find that we receive less than 50 per cent of the sun’s effective radiation on earth. When we say effective radiation, we mean the radiation, which can be used by plants to carry out photosynthesis. Also Read: Difference between food web and food chain Most of the sun’s radiation that falls on the earth is usually reflected back into space by the earth’s atmosphere. This effective radiation is termed as the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR). Overall, we receive about 40 to 50 percent of the energy having Photosynthetically Active Radiation and only around 2-10 percent of it is used by plants for the process of photosynthesis. Thus, this percent of PAR supports the entire world as plants are the producers in the ecosystem and all the other organisms are either directly or indirectly dependent on them for their survival. The energy flow takes place via the food chain and food web. During the process of energy flow in the ecosystem, plants being the producers absorb sunlight with the help of the chloroplasts and a part of it is transformed into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. This energy is stored in various organic products in the plants and passed on to the primary consumers in the food chain when the herbivores consume (primary consumers) the plants as food. Then conversion of chemical energy stored in plant products into kinetic energy occurs, degradation of energy will occur through its conversion into heat. Then followed by the secondary consumers. When these herbivores are ingested by carnivores of the first order (secondary consumers) further degradation will occur. Finally, when tertiary consumers consume the carnivores, energy will again be degraded. Thus, the energy flow is unidirectional in nature. Moreover, in a food chain, the energy flow follows the 10 percent law. According to this law, only 10 percent of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the other; rest is lost into the atmosphere. This is clearly explained in the following figure and is represented as an energy pyramid. Trophic levelThe producers and consumers in the ecosystem can be arranged into different feeding groups and are known as trophic level or the feeding level.
Food ChainThere are basically three different types of food chains in the ecosystem, namely –
In nature, we mostly observe food web as there are many organisms which are omnivores. As a result, they occupy multiple trophic levels. Law of Thermodynamics in the EcosystemThe law of thermodynamics in the ecosystem explains the flow of energy at each trophic level. The first law states that energy is neither created, nor destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another. This is true in energy flow in the ecocystem. The second law states that there is loss of energy at each step of energy flow. This law also stands true in ecology as their is progressive decrease in energy at each trophic level. Also Read: Ecosystem This was a brief idea about the energy flow in the ecosystem. For more information on energy flow, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference. Frequently Asked QuestionsThe energy flow is the amount of energy that moves along the food chain. This energy flow is also known as
calorific flow. The energy flow in the ecosystem is important to maintain an ecological balance. The producers synthesise food by the process of photosynthesis. A part of the energy is stored within the plants. The remaining
energy is utilised by the plants in their growth and development. This stored energy is transferred to the primary consumers when they feed on the producers. This energy is further passed on to the secondary consumers when they feed on the primary consumers, and so on. The 10 percent law of energy flow states that when the energy is passed on from one trophic level to another, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level. Answer: (b)First trophic level The Y shaped energy flow model was given by H.T. Odum. The single channel energy flow model depicts unidirectional flow of energy which shows that at each trophic level their is a progressive decrease in the energy levels. Sun is the primary and main source of energy in the ecosystem Which trophic level is considered a primary consumer quizlet?Organisms that consume producers are known as primary consumers and comprise the second trophic level. Grazing animals, such as deer and grasshoppers, are primary consumers.
Which if the following is the primary energy source for producers in near surface marine communities?Which of the following best describes the flow of energy in most terrestrial and near-surface marine ecosystems? Producers use energy from the sun to make organic matter, such as sugars, from carbon dioxide and water and are then consumed by organisms higher in the food chain.
Which trophic level has the least available energy in kilojoules in this food web phytoplankton?It follows that the carnivores (secondary consumers) that feed on herbivores and detritivores and those that eat other carnivores (tertiary consumers) have the lowest amount of energy available to them.
Which of the following organisms would occupy a high trophic level?Answer and Explanation: The answer is (e) cat. A cat is a carnivore meaning that a cat feeds on meat. A cat falls on the third trophic level.
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