Ecosystem Energy Transfer

Vital Portions of Carbon Cycle

Vital Portions of Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis on land had a great effect on the carbon cycle because it is one of the main staples of the carbon cycle, as it is one of the main ways that carbon is transferred throughout two of the Earth's greatest carbon stores, organic molecules and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Without photosynthesis on land, the carbon cycle would stall out, since there would be an overproduction of carbon dioxide from cellular respiration and no use of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Soon, all living things would eventually die due to a lack of cycling between oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a result, the carbon cycle wouldn’t be able to continue. Photosynthesis in the ocean is vital due to the fact that more than half of the oxygen you breathe comes from marine life which uses photosynthesis, like phytoplankton and seaweed. For instance, the phytoplankton in the ocean takes the carbon dioxide in the air and from the seawater, and turns it into oxygen. Without these major aspects, the carbon cycle wouldn't be able to continue. Other important apspects include respirarion, excretion, and decompisition, which realese carbon into the atmosphere. We use respiration, by breathing and , excretion, by getting rid of wasteful byproducts, and decompsition, by organisms being broken down after we die and our matter is returned to the ground.

Importance of Carbon Stores as it relates to CO2 concentrations

Importance of Carbon Stores on CO2 Levels

Carbon Stores are areas of the world where carbon is located in large amounts. For example, the ocean store is where all the carbon located within the ocean section of the hydrosphere. So, as humans dramatically increase the amount of CO2 that is put into the atmosphere, carbon stores decrease overall. Thus meaning, that as carbon is collected from carbon stores and released into the atmosphere, one of our natural sources of energy is being used, and just like all things, overusing these stores would be detremental to the carbon cycle since carbon stores play a major role in sustaining life in ecosystems by allowing carbon to move through them.

Role of the Atmopsheric Carbon Store in Global Warming

Role of Carbon Store in Global Warming

Global Warming is probably one of the most pressing problems facing our Earth in the present day, as well as one of the more controversial issues. Since CO2 admissions are one of the leading factors in global warming, the atomospheric store would play the biggest role in global warming. This is because the increased CO2 admissions into the atmosphere have been a major issue, so it would only make sense that the carbon stores in the amtosphere would have the biggest role. Since huamans have been increasing their CO2 emissions, the increase of such gases into the atmosphere have been damaging to the ozone layer and the quality of our stratosphere. Due to the fact that each layer of the atmosphere has its balance of gases, the increased amount of a certain gas would offset the balance of our atmosphere.

What are the trophic levels?

The trophic levels are certain postions or tiers that a group of organisms can be in which displays their eating pattern. There are four main levels; they are the primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and the tertiary consumers. The primary producers are those who create their own food such as plants, like or sunflowers. Primary consumers like rabits and zooplankton, eat primary producers. secondary consumers such as frogs, or crabs, eat primary consumers. Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Some examples of tertiary consumers are eagles or great white sharks. An addtional layer-the decomposer level- contains organisms that break down dead organisms into nutrients for plants. Some of these organisms include worms, or mushrooms.

Energy Pyramid

How does energy move?

How is energy transfered & lost?

Energy is transfered through the consumption and breaking down of organisms. As an organism consumes its food, it gains a certain amount of energy from it. An example of this is a primary consumer such as a rabbit eating grass to get energy. As detritivores and saprophytic organisms break down dead organisms, it transforms nutrients into forms in which primary producers can take in. This can be seen when worms break down plants in compost. Energy is lost through heat energy. As an organism is consumed by another organism in a higher trophic level around ninety percent of the energy the organism contained, is lost per level of consumption.

What is the role of cellular respiration in energy transfer?

Cellular Respiration is responsible for the creation of ATP which is a form of energy that the body can use and store. When an organism consumes its food, the mitochondria performs the process of cellular respiration to transform the water and sugars from that organism to create energy for the body. An example of this is a rabbit's system of cellular respiration using the glucose and water of a plant to create ATP for energy.

What is the role of water and cellular respiration? Where does it end up?

The role of energy in cellular respiration is to be the byproduct of the conenzyme's hydrogen and oxygen reaction during the electron transport stage of cellular respiration. This happens when the coenzymes are transporting protons through the cell. When the hydrogen from the coenzyme reacts with the oxygen the cell had taken in they react and create water. After the cellular respiration is complete the byproduct, water is either excreted out of the organism in the form of water vapor or used in another part of the body's cells.

Cellular Respiration

Limiting factors

Limiting factors in photosynthesis are things such as light intensity ,and less carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis and if you have a limited amount of carbon dioxide, less glucose from photosynthesis can be made. Light is also needed for photosynthesis, and if you do not have enough light intensity, less photosynthesis can occur, therefore less glucose and oxygen can be made. If limited factors were always present, many organisms would eventually die from lack of resources. Limiting factors can always occur, but photosynthesis can still occur because the factors required for it are not always limited.

Limiting Factors

Cellular respiration

Cellular respiration is the process in which oxygen and glucose is converted to make ATP, water, and carbon dioxide. The equation is: C6H12O6+ 6O2 --> 6CO2, 6CO2, & H2O

Cellular respiration occurs in all living organisms. Cellular respiration is a vital part to all life and every single organisim needs it to survive. Cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria and has three phases; glycosis, the KREBs cycle, and the electron system. It can also occur with or without oxygen through the processes of alcohol fermentation and lactic acid fermentation.

Cellular Respiration

How they are interconnected

Interconnection

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration are interconnected because they both depend on each other to occur. The byproducts of Photosynthesis is needed for cellular respiration. The end result for cellular respiration is carbon dioxide which plants need for photosynthesis so it is a revolving cycle between the two processes. These two processes are vital for all life on earth to survive. If the two processes were not interconnected or one shut down both would not be able to happen.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll captures light energy needed for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is a key component of photosynthesis which is needed for all organisms to survive on earth. Chlorophyll is a green pigment that is located in the plants chloroplast. Photosynthesis takes place in the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll's job in a plant is to absorb light. It also gives plants their green color. Chlorophyll is very important as it preforms photosynthesis. This allows for the survival of other organisms since the byproduct of photosynthesis is oxygen.

Chlorophyll's role