Energy loss through food chain : solar radiation is the basic input of energy which enters the ecosystem. the flow of energy through the ecosystem is non cyclic in nature. the radiant solar energy or light of the sun energy is trapped by the green plants and organism can use very little of energy which are trapped in various parts temporarily and most of the energy is lost in the form of heat. only 1%of the light energy falling on green plants is used for photosynthesis. plants use up 40% of the food produced by photosynthesis in respiration and only 10% of the food produced is contributed in their body tissue and is seen as growth, cell devision and reproduction. a herbivores feeding on the plant has acess to only 10% of the food produced by plants. in addition there are parts uneaten and so cant transferred to the second trophic level. the energy stored there will go back to thd decomposers. a carnivores feeding on the hervibores has no access to the energy the herbovores uses for respiration, growth and movement. in addition there excretory and undigested waste matter and uneaten parts accounting for 90% loss and again only 10% can passed to the third trophic level. as almost 90% of the energy is lost at each stage of transfers food chain are rarely longer than 4 units. a shorter food chain means much more energy is available to the final consumers. the 4th unit usually does not have sufficient energy to support the 5th trophic level. thus the energy released as heat to the environment does not return to the same system or organisms that produced it. dead parts and bodies of organisms and egested and excreted materials contain trappded chemical energy. this is finally released by the activity of microorganisms. eventually, all the energy that enters the biotic part of the ecosystem is lost as heat energy. living organisms can not use this form of energy to do work. they can only use light & chemical energy
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:00:51 +0000
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