Ecosystem Energetics

The following terminology should be part of your working vocabulary:

You should be able to do the following kinds of things:

1. Calculate gross and net primary productivity and respiration when presented with appropriate data.

2. Differentiate among the energetic efficiencies in Table 10-3.

3. Calculate ecological efficiencies of pant-herbivore and herbivore-carnivore segments of the food chain when given appropriate data.

4. Calculate production efficiency (gross and net) for herbivores and carnivores.

5. Describe how knowledge gained from measurement of ecological efficiencies helps to explain the well-known shape of the Eltonian pyramid.

6. Interpret the energy flow models in Figures 9-3, 9-4, 9-5,10-1, 10-8, and 10-9.

7. Describe how an inverted pyramid of biomass (i.e. where consumer biomass is larger than producer biomass) is possible. Under what conditions would you expect this pyramid to be stable? unstable?

8. Describe why it is energetically impossible for a population of carnivores to persist indefinitely by eating each other and nothing else.

9. Diagram and describe the energy losses that occur along a food chain.

Lecture Schedule	Lab and Field Schedule	Study Guide Index	Lecture Materials

Click to go back to Ken Lang's Stuff.

Comments and questions may be directed to me at: