...Energy Flow in Ecosystem and Its Importance in Crop Production By gachura10@gmail.com Course Tutor Institution, City Date Energy Flow in Ecosystem and Its Importance in Crop Production Introduction An ecosystem is made up of of the organic community that take place in some area, and the bodily and biochemical influences that make up its lifeless or abiotic environs (Fraham, 1984: 143). There are several instances of ecosystems: a fish pond, a plantation, a river mouth, a savannah. The limits are not static in any impartial way, even though occasionally they look clear, as with the water's edge of a small fish pond. Typically the margins of an ecological unit are selected for real-world aims having to do with the objectives of the specific study. According to Perry (2008), study of ecological unit mostly comprises of the study of sure procedures that relates the living, or biotic, constituents to the inorganic, and abiotic constituents. Energy changes and biogeosubstance transformation are the key procedures that include the area of environment conservation. Ecology normally is well-defined as the connections of creatures with one another and with the environs in which they are living. Ecology can be studied at the level of the separate organism, the inhabitants, the community, and the environment. studies of ecology at individuals are concerned generally about composition, reproduction, growth or performance, while studies of ecology at inhabitants...
Words: 1876 - Pages: 8
...Figure 4-10 The diagram shows how a food chain operates energy flow from level to level. Plants make their own food through the action of photosynthesis. Because of that they are known as producers. First order consumers fully rely on these plants for food which are called herbivores. A second order consumer or carnivore relies on the herbivores for food (Chiras, 2013). Figure 4-12 The lowest level of the chain games the most energy. The top of the pyramid transfers a small percentage of energy, while the lower level transfers more energy. This indicates the use of more producers must be in by the high levels, and this allows the transfer of more energy. There definitely are benefits of eating lower on the food chain. The change would result in increasing energy from eating from the lower level (Chiras, 2013). Figures 4-13 and 4-14 The carbon dioxide is taken in by plants, plants die and decay; decomposition puts carbon back into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide found in deposits will go back into the atmosphere slowly. Animals and decomposers breeds and put carbon back into the atmosphere. The ocean is storage for carbon dioxide. Every person needs to care about the carbon cycle since it is the very thing we depend on for life (Chiras, 2013). Figure 4-15 The steps for the nitrogen cycle are ammonification, fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. Nitrogen gas must be converted into ammonia so that plants can use it. Ammonia changes...
Words: 298 - Pages: 2
...Energy Flow Energy Flow Holly Regan SCI/275 August 10, 2014 Stacy Murphy Energy Flow The position of an organism in a food chain is called its trophic level. Producers are on the first trophic level because they are the self-producers. Producers are organisms like grass, plankton, and plants. Herbivores are on the second level, which are considered the first-order consumers. The first-order consumers eat the grass, plants, or plankton, and these consumers are mainly insects, small animals or small fish. Carnivores are on the third level, which is considered the second-order consumer. The second order consumer feeds on the producers and first-order consumers. When comparing pyramids (a) and (b) what is meant by " ...more food is available to those societies that eat lower on the food chain" is that by eating primarily vegetarian diet ten people can consume the recommended daily caloric intake of 2,000. By adding another trophic level involving a cow as the herbivore instead of ten people, they can only feed one person. The benefits of eating lower on the food chain is something I already do, while meat is rarely part of my daily caloric intake to eating much healthier, I do still eat meat once in a while. The carbon cycle goes through a two-step process involving photosynthesis and respiration. Green plants undergo both photosynthesis and respiration. Fungi and animal life only respire. Carbon is "cycled" from green plants to the atmosphere and back to the plant...
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...Energy Flow through an Ecosystem Energy Flow through an Ecosystem Explain how most living things depend on the sun as their ultimate energy source. “Without the sun, all life dies” (Konacq, 2014). Plants need to photosynthesize the food they need for growth. The food chain is also affected. Photosynthesis is needed to make nutritious food that animals depend on for survival (Konacq, 2014). Without sunshine, “all plants die” (Konacq, 2014). Because plants support the global food chain for all life, without plants, “all animals would die” (Konacq, 2014). The sun also aids in keeping the earth at a reasonable temperature and in the past, sunshine has helped make fossil fuels which we use today (Konacq, 2014). Describe the characteristics that make water so unique and essential for life on Earth. 1. Water molecules are polar. They have a slightly positive charge on one side and a slight negative charge on the other. Water carries materials to and from cells and it dissolves polar or ionic substances (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2013). 2. Water is the only liquid that is inorganic and occurs in nature. It occurs normally and at temperatures that are suitable for life (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2013). 3. Water molecules stick together cohesively. It adheres to surfaces and can be drawn into small channels (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2014). 4. Water expands when it crystalizes. If the temperatures happen to fall below freezing, the surface layers of bodies...
Words: 846 - Pages: 4
...better personal relationships. The main room in our home is the Living room where all the family members or guests get together and share their ideas. Various Feng Shui living room tips can be shared as under:- • Place the sofa in the corner which is farthest from the door and windows and make sure the sofa is clearly visible and provides a clear view of the door. • Do not allow space in between the wall and sofa. Wall is essential for providing security & protection to the members in the Feng Shui house. Don't place the sofa in front of a window or directly opposite the door. Since energy flows between the door & window, it would restrict the path of your guests. • Make sure you do not have lights or beams directly above the sofa as this would release the flow of negative energy. • Use of screens & partitions to influence the energy flow is highly recommended. This way the flow of energy can be directed to another part of the room. • While watching TV in your Feng Shui living room, try to sit on the red colour sofas as it promotes harmony and health for everyone living under one's roof. The colour red is considered to be very auspicious colour for all the family members who promote good overall health for everyone. • Put a dragon tortoise in the northern side of your living room for...
Words: 515 - Pages: 3
...As to what actions need to be taken to combat terrorism? For starters, we need to take homeland security as a serious matter. The debates around illegals are distracting us from border and port security matters. We need to better manage the funds in rebuilding Iraq because every (billion) dollar saved can be spent on local security and intelligence efforts. Terrorism must be fought both abroad and at home. Next, we must stop fostering terrorism in the world. We may call them insurgents or terrorists, but we need to be mindful that those same people are hailed as heroes, freedom-fighters, and liberators by many in the Middle East and beyond. Every time a stray bomb blows up women and children, every time a soldier murders an innocent villiager, more freedom-fighters/terrorists are created. To rebuild Iraq, we must put the Iraqi-people-building before nation-building. Finally, we must put freedom ahead of any single idealogy, both domestic and abroad. This means that we must implement security measures without taking away individuals' due process under law, we must not allow any government agency to run amok and terrorize our own citizens. Our mission for freedom must be clear to both our soldiers and people of other nations so it does not appear as if we are fighting for oil and profit. Our mission for freedom must be so pure and true so others are willing to fight alongside with us and not against us. The Buddha and the Terrorist Seaman, Donna. The Booklist 102. 22 ...
Words: 1370 - Pages: 6
...Chapter 2 ENERGY CONVERSION AND GENERAL ENERGY ANALYSIS W hether we realize it or not, energy is an important part of most aspects of daily life. The quality of life, and even its sustenance, depends on the availability of energy. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of the sources of energy, the conversion of energy from one form to another, and the ramifications of these conversions. Energy exists in numerous forms such as thermal, mechanical, electric, chemical, and nuclear. Even mass can be considered a form of energy. Energy can be transferred to or from a closed system (a fixed mass) in two distinct forms: heat and work. For control volumes, energy can also be transferred by mass flow. An energy transfer to or from a closed system is heat if it is caused by a temperature difference. Otherwise it is work, and it is caused by a force acting through a distance. We start this chapter with a discussion of various forms of energy and energy transfer by heat. We then introduce various forms of work and discuss energy transfer by work. We continue with developing a general intuitive expression for the first law of thermodynamics, also known as the conservation of energy principle, which is one of the most fundamental principles in nature, and we then demonstrate its use. Finally, we discuss the efficiencies of some familiar energy conversion processes, and examine the impact on energy conversion on the environment. Detailed treatments...
Words: 35895 - Pages: 144
...1 ) Explain how kinetic energyand potential energy determine the properties of the three states and phase changes, what occurs when heat is added or removed from a substance and how to calculate the enthalpy change. Answer In a gas, the potential energy (energy of attraction) is small to the kinetic energy thus, on average, the particles are far apart. This large distance has several macroscopic consequences : a gas fills its container, is highly compressible, and flows easily through another gas. In a liquid , attractions are stronger because the particles are touching, but they have enough kinetic energy to move randomly around each other.Thus, a liquid conforms to the shape of its container but has a surface ; It resists an applied force and thus compresses very slightly ; and it flows, but much more slowly than gases. In a solid, the attractions dominate the motion so much that the particles are fixed in position relative to one another, just jiggling in place. Thus, a solid has its own shape, compresses even less than liquids, and does not flow significantly. Each phase change has a name and an associated entalphy change : Gas to liquid, and vice versa. As the temperature drops, the molecules in the gas come together and form a liquid in the process, changing from a liquid to gas, is vaporization. Liquid to solid, and vice versa. As the temperature drops further, the particles move slower and become fixed in position in the process of freezing ; In common speech...
Words: 1415 - Pages: 6
...The Kaplan turbine is an inward flow reaction turbine, which means that the working fluid changes pressure as it moves through the turbine and gives up its energy. Power is recovered from both the hydrostatic head and from the kinetic energy of the flowing water. The design combines features of radial and axial turbines. The inlet is a scroll-shaped tube that wraps around the turbine's wicket gate. Water is directed tangentially through the wicket gate and spirals on to a propeller shaped runner, causing it to spin. The outlet is a specially shaped draft tube that helps decelerate the water and recover kinetic energy. The turbine does not need to be at the lowest point of water flow as long as the draft tube remains full of water. A higher turbine location, however, increases the suction that is imparted on the turbine blades by the draft tube. The resulting pressure drop may lead to cavitation. Variable geometry of the wicket gate and turbine blades allow efficient operation for a range of flow conditions. Kaplan turbine efficiencies are typically over 90%, but may be lower in very low head applications.[2] Current areas of research include CFD driven efficiency improvements and new designs that raise survival rates of fish passing through. Because the propeller blades are rotated on high-pressure hydraulic oil bearings, a critical element of Kaplan design is to maintain a positive seal to prevent emission of oil into the waterway. Discharge of oil into rivers is not desirable...
Words: 454 - Pages: 2
... March 20, 2015 THE FLOW OF ENERGY AND MATTER IN ECOSYSTEM When we think about ecosystems, we need to think both big and small. We need to consider the recycling of atoms between organisms and within their environment and the flow of energy through living organisms and its changes from one form to another. We need to appreciate the relationships between organisms, and between organisms and their environment. We also need to consider the potential effects that these relationships have, not only on individual organisms and their environment, but also on our planet. WATER Organisms need water to survive. The good news is that water cycles through ecosystems. The bad news is that, at times, the amount of water available can be too great (as in the case of floods) or too little (as in the case of drought). Some species have adapted to these conditions and possess adaptations that increase their chances of survival. Other organisms are not so fortunate and severe conditions of too much or too little water can result in their death. If too many of a particular type of organism die, then the decrease in their population size can have implications not only for other members of their food web, but also for other biotic and abiotic factors within their ecosystem. ENERGY As energy flows through ecosystems, from producers to consumers to detrivores to decomposers, some energy is lost at each level. The Sun is life’s main energy supply. Using energy from the Sun, plants make...
Words: 755 - Pages: 4
... • Metabolism and comfort • Bodily mechanisms of heat transfer and thermostatic control • Metabolic rates • Clothing • Environmental influences on comfort • Fanger's comfort equation • Measuring Instruments • The choice of inside design conditions 1. metabolism and comfort [pic] Metabolism is the mechanism whereby the body converts food into different forms of energy by digesting food in the presence of oxygen. This energy takes the following forms: 1. Work 2. Thermal Energy 3. Waste products Work The amount of bodily energy converted into work is not very great - 0% for a body at rest, 20% when walking up a one in four gradient at 10km/h. Thermal Energy Most of the energy produced by the bodily metabolism is dissipated as heat to the environment. The mechanism for this is seen in the next overhead. Waste Products The remainder of the energy produced is dissipated in waste products. thermal energy Thermal energy is released through an interaction of chemical changes occurring within the body and muscular contractions. [pic] The purpose of the body's thermo-regulatory system is to keep the temperature of the body's deep tissue at 37.2ºC by maintaining a thermal balance with the external environment through heat dissipation. comfort ASHRAE (American Society for Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) Standard 55-74...
Words: 1276 - Pages: 6
...P3 – Describe the operation and an application of a solar power source. A solar cell also known as photoelectric cell, is a device that alters light energy into electrical energy. One solar cell creates a really small amount of energy (around about 0.6 volts DC) so they are normally placed alongside each other inside an integrated electrical panel known as a solar panel. We are not completely aware of how sunlight is fully converted into electricity and thus we can only convert a small part of the light energy to electrical energy. The current generation of solar cells convert only a small percentage (12 to 15%) of the light energy from the sun into electrical energy which we can use. A solar cell is based upon the “photo-electric effect” which...
Words: 924 - Pages: 4
...- Heat normally flows from a hotter object to a colder object Fog Occurs naturally when humid air experiences a sudden drop in temperature Section 8.1 Air Conditioners Removes some thermal energy but cant make it disappear. It transfers thermal energy from the cooler room air to the warmer air outside Moving Heat Around: Thermodynamics An air conditioner transfers heat against its natural direction of flow. Heat pump- a device that uses ordered energy to transfer heat from a colder object to a hotter object law of thermal equilibrium (zeroth law of thermodynamics) two objects that are each in thermal equilibrium with a third object also in thermal equilibrium with another. To eliminate thermal energy, you must convert it to another form or transfer it elsewhere Law of conservation of energy(first law of thermodynamics) Two ways to transfer energy The mechanical means – work Thermal means – heat Change in objects thermal energy=heat added to object – work done by object Disorder and Entropy Ordered energy and thermal energy aren’t equivalent You can convert ordered energy into thermal but not the other way around. Ex: when you burn a log you cant turn the smoke back into a log. The particles would have to move back to exactly how they were. Disorder of an isolated system never decreases. Entropy: measure of the total disorder in an object Generally increases Law of entropy- the entropy of a thermally isolated system of objects never decreases...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...Discover The Universal Secret Of Health, Wealth, Freedom, Joy, And Life-Changing, Non-Stop Abundance! 1 All Rights Reserved Copyright 2012 www.ManifestationMiracle.com No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from ManifestationMiracle.com. The information contained in this book is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and the performance of the information is assumed by the user, and in no event shall ManifestationMiracle.com be liable for any consequential, incidental or direct damages suffered in the course of using the information in this book. Manifestation Miracle Secret System Table of Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 9 Part 1: You Are Destined for Success Chapter 1: The Secret Ingredient That Will Send You on the Path to Your Dreams ....................................................................................... 14 Exercise: Heartstorming ................................................................................. 20 Chapter 2: You Aren’t What You Eat....You Are What You Think, Feel, See and Vibrate ....
Words: 40748 - Pages: 163
...breaking down conduction we understand it is the physical transfer of heat. Two objects are touching and the heat from one object transfers to the other object to warm it. In convection we understand it is the flow of matter that moves the heat. Matter is warmed, moves away from the heat source and then other matter that has not been warmed moves closer to the heat source to be warmed. This creates a current allowing the flow of hot matter away and cool matter toward the heat source. Radiation is the other type of heat transfer we discuss; this type of heat transfer takes no matter at all and uses electromagnetic waves to transfer energy (heat) from one object to another. Conduction, convection and radiation are all methods in which heat is transferred from one object to another or from a heat source to an object. In each of these methods heat moves from the higher temperature to the lower temperature until a thermal equilibrium is established. It is the differences of each type of heat transfer that will be discussed in this paper. Before I explain each type of heat transfer I will discuss heat transfer in general. Heat is a form of energy, so when an object such as a cup is hot the particles in that cup have a lot of kinetic energy. In the hot cup, the particles will vibrate and rotate and the more the particles do that the greater the temperature of the object will be. Temperature is a measure of the amount of kinetic...
Words: 1777 - Pages: 8
