2.

5 Function of Ecosystems
2.5.1 Explain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in the
ecosystem.

Producers are autotrophic plants, algae and some bacteria. Photoautotrophs are
ones that use sunlight energy to create food. Producers are the link between
sunlight energy and life. The producers will ultimately determine how many
consumers the ecosystem can hold. Some bacteria in the soil are
chemoautotrophs rather than photoautotrophs, they use energy harnessed from
chemical reactions to make food.
Consumers are heterotrophic, meaning they consume other organisms for food.
Animals and fungi are obligate heterotrophs and many Protista and bacteria are
heterotrophic as well. Heterotrophs can be classified as herbivores (plant
eating), carnivores (animal eating) or omnivores (plant and animal eating).
Decomposers obtain their food an nutrients from the breakdown of dead organic
matter. Many fungi and bacteria are considered decomposers. Their role is
extremely important in the cycling of nutrients. They break down organic matter
into inorganic/nutrient components, which can then be absorbed by plants.

2.5.2 Describe photosynthesis and respiration in terms of inputs, outputs

and energy transformations.

Photosynthesis
o Photosynthesis is the process of converting carbon dioxide and water into
sugars using sunlight energy. A byproduct of photosynthesis is oxygen
gas.
o Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells. A major
component of chloroplasts is the pigment chlorophyll, which is a pigment
that can absorb light.
o Chlorophyll is efficient at absorbing light from the red and blue ends of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Green light is reflected, which is why plants
appear green.
o Photosynthesis increases with temperature, light, and carbon dioxide.
Respiration
o Respiration is the process of converting sugars or other organic molecules,
with the aid of oxygen, into chemical energy (in the form of ATP).
Byproducts of cellular respiration are carbon dioxide and water.
o ATP energy is used by organisms for cellular processes, but is ultimately
lost as heat back to the environment.
o

2.5.3 Describe and explain the transfer and transformation of energy as it

flows through an ecosystem.

Transfers and transformations of energy.

o Sunlight enters earths atmosphere as waves of the electromagnetic
spectrum, but most exists as UV, visible light, and IR.
o The light radiating from the sun is either absorbed or reflected.
o About 0.06% of solar radiation is absorbed by plants to be used in
photosynthesis.
o The energy absorbed by plants is for photosynthesis to make food.
o Some of that food is used by the plant to make chemical energy (ATP),
through cellular respiration, that can be used for their own cellular
processes.
o If they dont use that food themselves, it is stored by the plant and can be
exploited by heterotrophs.
o The ecological efficiency of transferring energy between trophic levels is
only around 5-20%.
o Eventually, all energy in the ecosystem will be lost as heat.
o Heat energy is reradiated back into the atmosphere.
Energy stores and flows
o Diagrams can be used to show energy flow through ecosystems.
o Stores are shown as boxes that represent various trophic levels.
o Flows are shown as arrows with the amount of energy in joules or biomass
per unit area.
o Arrows also represent productivity (rates in J m-2 day -1).
o The boxes and arrows can be different widths to show the amount of
storage or flow.

2.5.5 Define the terms gross productivity, net productivity, primary

productivity and secondary productivity.

Primary productivity
o The gain by producers (autotrophs) in energy or biomass per unit time.
This is done through photosynthesis.
o This productivity ultimately determines the productivity of the ecosystem.
o Primary productivity depends on light, availability of carbon dioxide and
nutrients, and the efficiency of the producer to convert light energy to
organic compounds. It is at its maximum with plenty of water, high levels
of insolation, high levels of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates, and
warm temperatures.
o Tropical rainforest biomes have the highest primary productivity.
Secondary productivity (assimilation)
o The gain by consumers (heterotrophs) in energy or biomass per unit time.
This is done through feeding and absorption.
o This productivity depends on the availability of food available for the
consumer and the efficiency they can convert this food into biomass.
Gross productivity
o The total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time.
o There is gross primary and gross secondary productivity.
Net productivity
o The gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time remaining after
losses from cellular respiration.
o There is net primary and net secondary productivity.

2.5.6 Define the terms and calculate the values of both gross primary
productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) from given data.

NPP = GPP R
NPP is usually determined by measuring the change in biomass.
Example: In an ecosystem the producers show a gross primary productivity of
5000 kJ m-2 y-1 and use 3000 kJ m-2 y-1 in respiration for their own cellular
processes. State the (NPP)

2.5.7 Define the terms and calculate the values of both gross secondary
productivity (GPP) and net secondary productivity (NPP) from given data.

NSP = GSP R
GSP = food eaten fecal loss