The Flow of Energy: Primary Production to Higher Trophic Levels

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Title:

The Flow of Energy: Primary Production to Higher Trophic Levels

Url:

https://globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/en...

Creator:

Klink, George

Publisher:

University of Michigan

Description: Today we will explore some of the multiple topics related to the flow of energy in ecosystems. Energy is used up and lost as heat as it moves through ecosystems, and new energy is continually added to the earth in the form of solar radiation. As we learned in the last lecture, the earth is an open system in regard to energy.

Nutrients and other materials, on the other hand, are continually recirculated within and among ecosystems, and by and large there are no new inputs or losses from the planet. In terms of materials, then, the earth is a closed system. Both energy and materials are essential to ecosystem structure, function, and composition. You have already been exposed to the basic concepts of nutrient cycles; in this lecture we focus on energy. Note that in terms of the cycling of carbon, "materials" and energy can be inter-converted. For example, we know how many calories (a measure of energy) a gram of certain carbon compounds materials such as fats or carbohydrates contain.

LC Classification:

Geography. Anthropology. Recreation -- Geography (General) -- Tropics (General)
Science -- Natural history. Biology -- Biology (General) -- Ecology -- Special aspects of the subject as a whole, A-Z -- Ecosystem health
Science -- Physics -- Force and energy (General)
Science -- Physics -- Meteorology. Climatology -- Temperature and radiation -- Solar radiation. Sunshine

GEM Subject:

Science -- Biology
Science -- Physics
Science -- Ecology

Key Concept:

Ecology -- Ecosystems
Ecology -- Solar radiation
Physics -- Energy

Date Issued:

2008-10-31

Resource Type:

Reference Material
Instructional Material

Format:

Document -- HTML

Audience:

Educator
Learner

Education Level:

High School
Higher Education
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Lower Division)
Higher Education -- Undergraduate (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Upper Division)
Higher Education -- Technical Education (Lower Division)
Vocational/Professional Development Education

Language:

English

Rights:

The Regents of the University of Michigan

Access Rights:

Free access

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Source:

Microbial Life

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