Explain how energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems.

What will be an ideal response?


Energy from the sun is converted into chemical energy by producers via photosynthesis.  Producers (plants) are consumed by primary consumers who store the energy until they are consumed by upper level consumers.  Some of this energy is lost as heat due to the second law of thermodynamics. When consumers die, their stored chemical energy is used by decomposers to break down their bodies into nutrients.  The nutrients are taken up and used by producers.  The energy flow is one-way while the nutrient flow is circular.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Which of the following statements gives an important reason for the large daily temperature range over deserts?

A. Free convection cells are unable to form above the hot desert ground. B. Dry air is a very poor heat conductor. C. There is little water vapour in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation. D. The light coloured sand radiates heat very rapidly at night.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Administrative despotism, according to Tocqueville, tends to do what to the citizenry of a nation?

a) Redirect labors toward individual goals b) Energize towards unity c) Transform them into a flock of timid and hardworking animals d) All of the above

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Looking at the map (1.9 ) of landform regions of North America, ________ and ________ take up the largest amount of land in Canada and the United States

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following best matches the description?Measure of the biological damage to tissue caused by radiation.

A. nuclear breeder reactor B. moderator C. radiation D. rem E. heavy-water reactor F. light-water reactor G. nuclear fusion H. gamma radiation I. transuranic waste J. U-235 K. thermal pollution L. nuclear fission M. radioactive half-life N. alpha radiation O. decommissioning P. beta radiation

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences