Download chapter 5 study guide

CHAPTER 5 STUDY GUIDE
ENERGY FLOWS AND MATTER CYCLES IN
ECOSYSTEMS
Define the following terms:
trophic level
producer
consumer (primary,
secondary, tertiary)
decomposer
herbivore
omnivore








carnivore
autotroph
heterotroph
biogeochemical cycle
biomass
photosynthesis
respiration
fossil fuel
reservoir
source
sink
flux
nitrogen fixation
ecological succession
What is the source of energy for life on Earth?
Describe how energy moves through an ecosystem
What happens to energy at each transfer between trophic levels (i.e., when a wolf
pack eats an elk, what happens to the energy content of the elk)?
o Describe the rule-of-thumb known as the ``10 % rule’’
o Use the 10 % rule to calculate the energy content or biomass of a trophic
level given other trophic levels
Compare and contrast the processes of photosynthesis and respiration
o How are they alike?
o How are they different?
o What do they accomplish?
Why are big, fierce animals rare?
Trace the path of a carbon atom through the carbon cycle
o What are the major reservoirs of the carbon cycle?
o Which are sources and which are sinks?
o Why is the carbon cycle important to plants and animals?
o How are humans influencing the carbon cycle?
Trace the path of a nitrogen atom through the nitrogen cycle
o What are the major reservoirs of the nitrogen cycle?
o Which are sources and which are sinks?
o Why is the nitrogen cycle important to plants and animals?
o How are humans influencing the nitrogen cycle?
o What is the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle
o Describe the make-up of the atmosphere
Describe the process of ecological succession
o review examples, such as succession after fires at Yellowstone or after the
volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens