CHRISTINA BOWERS PH.D
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Topic 4.2:  Energy flow

Essential idea:
  • ​Ecosystems require a continuous supply of energy to fuel life processes and to replace energy lost as heat.

4.2U1:  Most ecosystems rely on a supply of energy from sunlight.
4.2U2:  Light energy is converted to chemical energy in carbon compounds by photosynthesis.
4.2U3:  Chemical energy in carbon compounds flows through food chains by means of feeding.
4.2U4:  Energy released from carbon compounds by respiration is used in living organisms and converted to heat.
4.2U5:  Living organisms cannot convert heat to other forms of energy.
4.2U6:  Heat is lost from ecosystems.
4.2U7:  Energy losses between trophic levels restrict the length of food chains and the biomass of higher trophic levels.

4.2Skill 1:  Quantitative representations of energy flow using pyramids of energy.
LIfe is wonderfully complicated.   Stay curious.  Be skeptical.    And above all, ask many questions!