The flow of energy between various components of the environment has been extensively studied. Give an outline of the findings.
Answers
Living organisms can use energy in two forms radiant and fixed energy. Radiant energy is in the form of electromagnetic waves, such as light. Fixed energy is potential chemical energy bound in various organic substances which can be broken down in order to release their energy content.
Organisms that can fix radiant energy utilizing inorganic substances to produce organic molecules are called autotrophs. Organisms that cannot obtain energy from abiotic source but depend on energy-rich organic molecules synthesized by autotrophs are called heterotrophs. Those which obtain energy from living organisms are called consumers and those which obtain energy from dead organisms are called decomposers.
When the light energy falls on the green surfaces of plants, a part of it is transformed into chemical energy which is stored in various organic products in the plants. When the herbivores consume plants as food and convert chemical energy accumulated in plant products into kinetic energy, degradation of energy will occur through its conversion into heat. When herbivores are consumed by carnivores of the first order (secondary consumers) further degradation will occur. Similarly, when primary carnivores are consumed by top carnivores, again energy will be degraded.
In nature, the sun is the ultimate source of energy and all living organisms derive energy directly or indirectly from the sun.
The plants absorbs energy from the sun and prepares their own food.
The energy contained in the plants is obtained by the herbivores when they eat plants.
The energy contained in the herbivores is passed on to carnivores when they eat the herbivores.
In this way energy flows in uni direction through different components of the environment.
The example of energy flow is given:
Plants→Herbivores→Carnivores