To function, ecosystems require an input of energy. Where does this energy come from?
Please post your answer, and we'll be glad to comment on it.
parasitism and predation, one organism benefits at the expense of another. What is the difference between the two processes
DrBob answered this for you last night.
http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1195096465.1195097566
Please don't keep reposting the exact same question. If there's something you don't understand about the answer, please tell us what you don't understand, and we'l work with you. But, when you keep reposting the same question, we assume you haven't even read the original answer.
ok I know the 1st part. but I can not find the answer to the 2nd part. Please help
Thanks for clarifying. We'd appreciate it if you restated your question asking about what you don't know. Please click Post a New Question and start a new thread.
To find the answer to your question, we can start by understanding the concept of food chains and food webs within an ecosystem. Ecosystems require an input of energy to sustain life, and this energy ultimately comes from the sun.
1. Sun: The primary source of energy for almost all ecosystems is the sun. Sunlight contains electromagnetic radiation, specifically solar radiation, which provides the energy that fuels the ecosystem.
2. Producers: Within an ecosystem, green plants, algae, and some bacteria known as producers or autotrophs harness sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. They convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose (a type of sugar). This process allows producers to synthesize their own food and store energy.
3. Consumers: Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. There are three primary categories of consumers:
a. Herbivores: These are animals that consume only plants. They extract energy by eating plant leaves, stems, fruits, or seeds.
b. Carnivores: These are animals that consume other animals. They obtain energy by hunting, capturing, and eating herbivores or other carnivores.
c. Omnivores: These are animals that consume both plants and animals. They obtain energy by eating a combination of plant and animal matter.
4. Decomposers: Decomposers are organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that break down dead organic matter, including the remains of plants and animals. They obtain energy by decomposing and digesting the organic material, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.
In summary, the sun is the ultimate source of energy in ecosystems. Producers capture solar energy through photosynthesis, converting it into chemical energy. Consumers obtain this energy by consuming the producers or other consumers. Finally, decomposers break down and recycle organic matter, releasing energy and nutrients back into the ecosystem. This interconnected energy flow forms the basis of ecosystem functioning.