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| The is the annual amount of useful energy produced by an ecosystem. It is controlled by light intensity and duration, temperature, and water availability. Net primary production is measured as biomass, the dry weight of organic matter per unit area within an ecosystem. |
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plants and animals that are able to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide, water and light energy through a process known as photosynthesis.
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| The transfer of food energy to different levels of the food wed is accomplished by consumers which feed on the primary producers or on other consumers. |
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(microorganisms and bacteria) feed on decaying organic matter at all levels in the food web.
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is a biochemical reaction which results in the production of carbohydrates and oxygen using water, carbon dioxide, and light energy. A simplified version of this biochemical reaction is:
H2O + CO2 + light energy = —CHOH— + O2
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Definition
During the respiration process carbohydrates are broken down and combined with oxygen to create carbon dioxide, water, and chemical energy. A simplified version of this chemical reaction is:
—CHOH— + O2 = CO2 + H2O + chemical energy
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Definition
Ecological succession is a development sequence in which plant communities, or seres, succeed one another as they progress to a stable climax which represents the most complex community of organisms possible in an area.
Succession starts with pioneer species which are species that can survive in harsh conditions. The pioneer species eventually moderate the harsh conditions allowing the gradual invasion of other species (secondary succession). Disturbances such as fires, insects, disease, and disruptive human activities such as clear cutting which remove or alter existing communities results in secondary succession.
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