energy flow essay

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Levels in Ecology

Plant biology, energy flow and interactions in ecology.

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• Ecology: Definition, Types, Importance & Examples

Energy Flow (Ecosystem): Definition, Process & Examples

An ecosystem is defined as a community of various organisms interacting with each other and their environment in a particular area. It accounts for all interactions and relationships between both biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors.

Energy is what drives the ecosystem to thrive. And while all matter is conserved in an ecosystem, energy flows through an ecosystem, meaning it is not conserved. Energy enters all ecosystems as sunlight and is gradually lost as heat back into the environment.

However, before energy flows out of the ecosystem as heat, it flows between organisms in a process called energy flow . It's this energy flow that comes from the sun and then goes from organism to organism that is the basis of all interactions and relationships within an ecosystem.

Energy Flow Definition and Trophic Levels

The definition of energy flow is the transfer of energy from the sun and up each subsequent level of the food chain in an environment.

Each level of energy flow on the food chain in an ecosystem is designated by a trophic level, which refers to the position a certain organism or group of organisms occupies on the food chain. The start of the chain, which would be at the bottom of the energy pyramid, is the first trophic level . The first trophic level includes producers and autotrophs that convert solar energy into usable chemical energy via photosynthesis.

The next level up in the food chain/energy pyramid would be considered the second trophic level , which is usually occupied by a type of primary consumer like an herbivore that eats plants or algae. Each subsequent step in the food chain is equivalent to a new trophic level.

Terms to Know for Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Besides trophic levels, there are a few more terms you need to know to understand energy flow.

Biomass: Biomass is organic material or organic matter. Biomass is the physical organic material that energy is stored in, like the mass that makes up plants and animals.

Productivity: Productivity is the rate at which energy is incorporated into the bodies of organisms as biomass. You can define productivity for any and all trophic levels. For example, primary productivity is the productivity of primary producers in an ecosystem.

Gross primary productivity (GPP): GPP is the rate at which the energy from the sun is captured in glucose molecules. It essentially measures how much total chemical energy is generated by primary producers in an ecosystem.

Net primary productivity (NPP): NPP also measures how much chemical energy is generated by primary producers, but it also takes into account the energy lost due to metabolic needs by the producers themselves. So, NPP is the rate at which the energy from the sun is captured and stored as biomass matter, and it's equal to the amount available energy to the other organisms in the ecosystem. NPP is always a lower amount than GPP.

NPP varies depending on the ecosystem. It depends on variables such as:

• Available sunlight.
• Nutrients in the ecosystem.
• Soil quality.
• Temperature.
• CO 2 levels.

Energy Flow Process

Energy enters ecosystems as sunlight and is transformed into usable chemical energy by producers such as land plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria. Once this energy enters the ecosystem via photosynthesis and is converted into biomass by those producers, energy flows through the food chain when organisms eat other organisms.

Grass uses photosynthesis, beetle eats grass, bird eats beetle and so on.

Energy Flow Is Not 100 Percent Efficient

As you move up trophic levels and continue along the food chain, energy flow is not 100 percent efficient. Only about 10 percent of the available energy makes it from one trophic level to the next trophic level, or from one organism to the next. The rest of that available energy (about 90 percent of that energy) is lost as heat.

The net productivity of each level decreases by a factor of 10 as you go up each trophic level.

Why isn't this transfer 100 percent efficient? There are three main reasons:

1. Not all organisms from each trophic level are consumed: Think of it this way: the net primary productivity amounts to all of the available energy for organisms in an ecosystem that's provided by producers for those organisms in higher trophic levels. In order to have all of that energy flow from that level to the next, it means that all of those producers would need to be consumed. Every blade of grass, every microscopic piece of algae, every leaf, every flower and so on. That doesn't happen, which means that some of that energy doesn't flow from that level up to the higher trophic levels.

2. Not all energy is able to be transferred from one level to the next: The second reason why the flow of energy is inefficient is because some energy is incapable of being transferred and, thus, is lost. For example, humans cannot digest cellulose. Even though that cellulose contains energy, people cannot digest it and get energy from it, and it's lost as "waste" (a.k.a., feces).

This is true for all organisms: there are certain cells and pieces of matter that they cannot digest that will be excreted as waste/lost as heat. So even if the available energy that a piece of food has is one amount, it's impossible for an organism that eats it to obtain every unit of available energy within that food. Some of that energy will always be lost.

3. Metabolism uses energy: Lastly, organisms use up energy for metabolic processes like cellular respiration. This energy is used up and cannot then be transferred to the next trophic level.

How Energy Flow Affects the Food and Energy Pyramids

Energy flow can be described through food chains as the transfer of energy from one organism to the next, beginning with the producers and moving up the chain as organisms are consumed by one another. Another way to display this type of chain or simply to display the trophic levels is through food/energy pyramids.

Because energy flow is inefficient, the lowest level of the food chain is almost always the largest in terms of both energy and biomass. That's why it appears at the base of the pyramid; that's the level that's the largest. As you move up each trophic level or each level of the food pyramid, both energy and biomass decrease, which is why levels narrow in number and narrow visually as you move up the pyramid.

Think of it this way: You lose 90 percent of the available amount of energy as you move up each level. Only 10 percent of the energy flows along, which cannot support as many organisms as the previous level. This results in both less energy and less biomass at each level.

That explains why there's usually a greater number of organisms lower on the food chain (like grass, insects and small fish, for example) and a much smaller number of organisms at the top of the food chain (like bears, whales and lions, for example).

How Energy Flows in an Ecosystem

Here's a general chain of how energy flows in an ecosystem:

• Energy enters the ecosystem via sunlight as   solar energy . 
• Primary producers (a.k.a., the first trophic level) turn that solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. Common examples are land plants, photosynthetic bacteria and algae. These producers are photosynthetic autotrophs, which means they create their own food/organic molecules with the sun's energy and carbon dioxide.
• Some of that chemical energy that the producers create is then incorporated into the matter that makes up those producers. The rest is lost as heat and used in those organisms' metabolism.
• They're then consumed by primary consumers (a.k.a., second trophic level). Common examples are herbivores and omnivores that eat plants. The energy that has been stored in those organisms' matter is transferred to that next trophic level. Some energy is lost as heat and as waste.
• The next trophic level includes other consumers/predators that will eat the organisms on the second trophic level ( secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and so on ). With each step you go up the food chain, some energy is lost.
• When organisms die, decomposers like worms, bacteria and fungi break down the dead organisms and both recycle nutrients into the ecosystem and take energy for themselves. As always, some energy is still lost as heat.

Without producers, there would be no way for any amount of energy to enter the ecosystem in a usable form. Energy must continually enter the ecosystem via sunlight and those primary producers, or else the entire food web/chain in the ecosystem would collapse and cease to exist.

Example Ecosystem: Temperate Forest

Temperate forest ecosystems are a great example for displaying how energy flow works.

It all starts with the solar energy that enters the ecosystem. This sunlight plus carbon dioxide will be used by a number of primary producers in a forest environment, including:

• Trees (such as maple, oak, ash and pine).
• Algae in ponds/streams.

Next come the primary consumers. In the temperate forest, this would include herbivores like deer, various herbivorous insects, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and more. These organisms eat the primary producers and incorporate their energy into their own bodies. Some energy is lost as heat and waste.

Secondary and tertiary consumers then eat those other organisms. In a temperate forest, this includes animals like raccoons, predatory insects, foxes, coyotes, wolves, bears and birds of prey.

When any of these organisms die, decomposers break down the dead organisms' bodies, and the energy flows to the decomposers. In a temperate forest, this would include worms, fungi and various types of bacteria.

The pyramidal "flow of energy" concept can be demonstrated with this example, too. The most available energy and biomass is at the lowest level of the food/energy pyramid: the producers in the form of flowering plants, grasses, bushes and more. The level with the least energy/biomass is at the top of the pyramid/food chain in the form of high-level consumers like bears and wolves.

Example Ecosystem: Coral Reef

While marine ecosystems like a coral reef are very different from terrestrial ecosystems like temperate forests, you can see how the concept of energy flow works in the exact same way.

Primary producers in a coral reef environment are mostly microscopic plankton, microscopic plant-like organisms found in the coral and free-floating in the water around the coral reef. From there, various fish, mollusks and other herbivorous creatures, like sea urchins that live in the reef, consume those producers (mostly algae in this ecosystem) for energy.

Energy then flows to the next trophic level, which in this ecosystem would be larger predatory fish like sharks and barracuda along with the moray eel, snapper fish, sting rays, squid and more.

Decomposers exist in coral reefs, too. Some examples include:

• Sea cucumbers.
• Bacterial species.
• Brittle starfish.
• Various crab species (for example, the decorator crab).

You can also see the concept of the pyramid with this ecosystem. The most available energy and biomass exists at the first trophic level and the lowest level of the food pyramid: the producers in the form of algae and coral organisms. The level with the least energy and accumulated biomass is at the top in the form of high-level consumers like sharks.

Related Articles

• U.S. Energy Information Administration: Biomass Explained
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Life in a Coral Reef
• PBS LearningMedia: Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem
• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Ecosystem
• Britannica Kids: Energy Flow and Trophic Levels
• Open Oregon Educational Resources: Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

About the Author

Elliot Walsh holds a B.S in Cell and Developmental Biology and a B.A in English Literature from the University of Rochester. He's worked in multiple academic research labs, at a pharmaceutical company, as a TA for chemistry, and as a tutor in STEM subjects. He's currently working full-time as a content writer and editor.

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Level Classifications in Ecology: Overview

Plant: definition, evolution, taxonomy.

Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

Trophic levels provide a structure for understanding food chains and how energy flows through an ecosystem. At the base of the pyramid are the producers, who use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to make their own food. Herbivores or primary consumers, make up the second level. Secondary and tertiary consumers, omnivores and carnivores, follow in the subsequent sections of the pyramid. At each step up the food chain, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next level, while approximately 90 percent of the energy is lost as heat.

Biology, Ecology, Geography, Physical Geography

• Biology Article
• Energy Flow In Ecosystem

Energy Flow in Ecosystem

Table of Contents

Energy Flow

• Trophic Level

The chemical energy of food is the main source of energy required by all living organisms. This energy is transmitted to different trophic levels along the food chain. This energy flow is based on two different laws of thermodynamics:

• First law of thermodynamics, that states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change from one form to another.
• Second law of thermodynamics, that states that as energy is transferred more and more of it is wasted.

The energy flow in the ecosystem is one of the major factors that support the survival of such a great number of organisms. For almost all organisms on earth, the primary source of energy is solar energy. It is amusing to find that we receive less than 50 per cent of the sun’s effective radiation on earth. When we say effective radiation, we mean the radiation, which can be used by plants to carry out photosynthesis.

Also Read:  Difference between food web and food chain

Most of the sun’s radiation that falls on the earth is usually reflected back into space by the earth’s atmosphere. This effective radiation is termed as the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR).

Overall, we receive about 40 to 50 percent of the energy having Photosynthetically Active Radiation and only around 2-10 percent of it is used by plants for the process of photosynthesis. Thus, this percent of PAR supports the entire world as plants are the producers in the ecosystem and all the other organisms are either directly or indirectly dependent on them for their survival.

The energy flow takes place via the food chain and food web. During the process of energy flow in the ecosystem, plants being the producers absorb sunlight with the help of the chloroplasts and a part of it is transformed into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis .

This energy is stored in various organic products in the plants and passed on to the primary consumers in the food chain when the herbivores consume (primary consumers) the plants as food. Then conversion of chemical energy stored in plant products into kinetic energy occurs, degradation of energy will occur through its conversion into heat.

Then followed by the secondary consumers. When these herbivores are ingested by carnivores of the first order (secondary consumers) further degradation will occur. Finally, when tertiary consumers consume the carnivores, energy will again be degraded. Thus, the energy flow is unidirectional in nature.

Moreover, in a food chain, the energy flow follows the 10 percent law. According to this law, only 10 percent of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the other; rest is lost into the atmosphere. This is clearly explained in the following figure and is represented as an energy pyramid.

Trophic level

The producers and consumers in the ecosystem can be arranged into different feeding groups and are known as trophic level or the feeding level.

• The producers (plants) represent the first trophic level.
• Herbivores (primary consumers) present the second trophic level.
• Primary carnivores (secondary consumers) represent the third trophic level
• Top carnivores (tertiary consumers) represent the last level.

There are basically three different types of food chains in the ecosystem, namely –

• Grazing food chain (GFC) – This is the normal food chain that we observe in which plants are the producers and the energy flows from the producers to the herbivores (primary consumers), then to carnivores (secondary consumers) and so on.
• Saprophytic or Detritus food chain (DFC) – In this type of food chain, the dead organic matter occupies the lowermost level of the food chain, followed by the decomposers and so on.
• Parasitic food chain (PFC) – In this type of food chain, large organisms either the producer or the consumer is exploited and therefore the food passes to the smaller organism.

In nature, we mostly observe food web as there are many organisms which are omnivores. As a result, they occupy multiple trophic levels.

Law of Thermodynamics in the Ecosystem

The law of thermodynamics in the ecosystem explains the flow of energy at each trophic level. The first law states that energy is neither created, nor destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another. This is true in energy flow in the ecocystem.

The second law states that there is loss of energy at each step of energy flow. This law also stands true in ecology as their is progressive decrease in energy at each trophic level.

Also Read:  Ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you understand by the energy flow.

The energy flow is the amount of energy that moves along the food chain. This energy flow is also known as calorific flow.

Why is the energy flow in ecosystem important?

The energy flow in the ecosystem is important to maintain an ecological balance. The producers synthesise food by the process of photosynthesis. A part of the energy is stored within the plants. The remaining energy is utilised by the plants in their growth and development. This stored energy is transferred to the primary consumers when they feed on the producers. This energy is further passed on to the secondary consumers when they feed on the primary consumers, and so on.

What is the 10 percent law of energy flow?

The 10 percent law of energy flow states that when the energy is passed on from one trophic level to another, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level.

Green plants occupy the following trophic level in an ecosystem (a)Complete food chain (b)First trophic level (c)Second trophic level (d)Third trophic level

The y shaped energy flow model was given by, what is the single channel energy flow model, what is the primary or main source of energy in the ecosystem.

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High school biology - NGSS

Course: high school biology - ngss   >   unit 4.

• Flow of energy and matter through ecosystems
• Impact of changes to trophic pyramids

Flow of energy and cycling of matter in ecosystems

• Understand: flow of energy and cycling of matter in ecosystems
• Apply: flow of energy and cycling of matter in ecosystems

The movement of energy and matter in ecosystems

Energy and matter are conserved during ecosystem processes, food webs model matter and energy transfer, ecological pyramids model energy loss, what else should i know about trophic levels and food webs.

• Organisms can occupy more than one trophic level. Organisms are not limited to one trophic level. For example, omnivores (which eat plants and animals) can be classified as primary or secondary consumers.

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Global Systems Science

EF9. How Does Energy Flow in Living Systems?

{ Energy Flow Contents }

It’s a sunny spring day.

Lush green grass from winter rainstorms carpets the hillside, punctuated here and there with ancient oak trees. Zooming in on one of the trees we see that it’s alive with hundreds of oak caterpillars, munching holes in the leaves. It’s a feast day for squirrels and blue jays, flitting among the branches collecting acorns, and occasionally stopping to gobble a tasty caterpillar. The squirrel stops to scratch a flea. A pair of chickadees hop through the branches collecting caterpillars for their chicks that are waiting eagerly in their hole nest in the trunk. Animal droppings, egg shells, leaves and dead insects fall to the ground beneath the tree. Soil organisms such as earthworms, mushrooms and bacteria consume this organic matter, breaking it down into nutrients that can be taken up by the tree roots.

Ecologists use the term food web to describe the system of relationships that allows energy to flow from one organism to another. Food webs are seldom simple. If we diagram an example like the oak tree, with arrows pointing to the consumers of energy, we end up with quite a complex picture. 

I. Energy Transfer Through Food Webs

The ultimate source of energy is the Sun. In an ecosystem, it is only the green plants that are able to trap the Sun’s energy to produce food. Even animals that just eat other animals must include in their diet animals that have eaten plants, or that eat other animals that eat plants. Plants have the capability of transforming the radiant energy of sunlight into the chemical energy stored in food. Ecologists are scientists who study the relationships among living organisms and how they interact with their environment. They call plants producers because they are the only organisms that can produce food from sunlight. Without the producers, animals (including humans) could not survive.

Non-producer plants and animals have evolved strategies to get stored chemical energy—food—from green plants. The chart on the next page summarizes the categories that describe the different ways that plants and animals get food to survive.

II. Components of Food Webs

Producers: Organisms that add energy to an ecosystem. These organisms are green plants that trap light energy to make sugars through photosynthesis.

Herbivores: Animals that eat living plants.

Carnivores: Animals that eat other live animals.

Omnivores: Animals that eat both plants and animals.

Scavengers: Animals that eat dead and decaying organisms.

Parasites: Organisms that take nutrients directly from other living plants or animals.

Decomposers: Organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down dead organisms into nutrients for plants.

Question 9.1  Study the Oak Food Web diagram on the previous page. What plant is the producer? What animals would you classify as omnivores? What animal is a scavenger? Can you find an example of each energy-getting strategy in this simplified version of an oak food web? 

Question 9.2   What are some other organisms that could be part of this oak food web? 

Question 9.3  Make a diagram of a food web that includes you. Identify the producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, scavengers, parasites, and decomposers for your food web. III. How Do Plants Produce Food?

Plants use solar energy to power chemical reactions inside their cells. These reactions transform simple carbon dioxide and water molecules into a more complex chemical called a sugar. Sugars molecules contain carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms. It takes energy to build sugar molecules; and when they are broken down they release that energy. 

The chemical reaction in which plants build sugar molecules is called photosynthesis. It is actually a multi-step reaction that is only partly understood by biochemists. (If the reaction were completely understood, perhaps we could create food in the laboratory without green plants.) Below is a simplified equation which shows the starting and ending points of photosynthesis in green plants.

As the leaves of a plant produce sugar molecules, other areas of the plant use the sugar for various life functions. For example, oak trees need to produce new tissues to replace the leaves eaten by the caterpillars, and new acorns to replace those devoured by the squirrels and blue jays. So, the sugars produced by the plant flow through veins in the leaves and branches to where they are needed. There the energy is released in a process known as respiration. The great majority of living organisms, including plants, animals (and people), as well as many bacteria, use the process of respiration to get the energy out of sugars to run our life processes, whether it be growing new tissue, making our muscles move, warming our bodies, or electrical activity in our brains that we call “thinking.” 

When you light a candle, you are starting a chemical reaction in which oxygen combines with molecules in the candle wax to release heat and light energy. We call it “burning.” Respiration is a similar process, in that oxygen is combined with sugar molecules, releasing energy. The process is shown below.

IV. Energy Loss in the Food Web

The matter which makes up the bodies of plants and animals, both living and dead, is called biomass. This biomass includes the chemical energy stored in the tissues of the organism. As plants are eaten by herbivores, and herbivores are eaten by carnivores or scavengers, matter with stored chemical energy is transferred from one organism to the next. 

When one organism is eaten by another, much of the original biomass, along with its stored energy, is lost to the food web. In the case of plants for example, the roots, dead leaves, and stems of the plant may be left behind. 

Some of the biomass of an animal that is eaten by a scavenger may be left unused as bones or feathers. Furthermore, not all of the energy in biomass that is consumed is used, since no machine—mechanical or living—is 100% efficient. Some of the biomass is not digested and is eliminated. Some is lost in the form of heat. 

This transfer and loss of energy and biomass can be illustrated with a pyramid. The drawings on this page show the consumption of energy and biomass that might occur each time one kind of organism is eaten by another. An ecosystem usually needs many more producers to support fewer herbivores, and many herbivores to support fewer carnivores. 

Humans are omnivores. We can eat plants or animals. In the United States people eat much more meat than in other countries. This means that we make very inefficient use of biomass. For example, it is estimated that it takes 1,000 calories of sunlight to produce just one tenth of a calorie of energy from beef. The world’s resources would go much further if people obtained more of the nutrients that they needed from plants than from animals. This is also in accord with recommendations of many nutritionists—that people should eat a lot more grains, vegetables and legumes than meat to achieve a healthy diet. V. Energy Stored in the Ground

On the forest floor, leaves, pine needles, fruits, cones, and other debris that has fallen from the canopy builds up, forming a rich layer of organic material. This deposit of carbon-rich plant material is home to a myriad of small invertebrates, fungi and microorganisms that feed on the cellulose and animal matter, thereby returning many of the nutrients to the soil, where they are absorbed by new plants and eaten by other animals. 

Decomposition and decay are processes that most of us try to avoid! Dead things smell when they break down and look really weird. But for all its unpleasant aspects, organic decomposition is essential to the well-being of life on Earth. The nutrients and energy within living things get passed on to future generations of organisms via the hidden world of scavengers and decomposers. In your lifetime, you will eat about 45,000 kg (50 tons) of “second hand” food made up of recycled nutrients! The unappreciated “realm of the rotten” helps us stay alive.

Not all plant and animal debris is immediately recycled. In cold polar regions and at high mountain elevations large deposits of organic matter have formed. When plants growing in these frozen environments die, they accumulate layer after layer, eventually forming a substance called peat. Peat also forms in bogs, where the amount of free oxygen is limited, slowing the process of decay. People in the British Isles, Northern Europe and the Arctic have a long history of mining and burning peat as fuel.

During the carboniferous period, 400 million years ago, large stands of ancient forests grew and died in swampland, adding layer upon layer of peat. This peat was buried by other sediments. After millions of years, the compressed sediments formed black and brown rocks that we call coal. Coal burns because it contains the partially decayed remains of plants and animals. Remains of marine plants and animals deposited on the ocean floor that are buried under layers of sediment eventually turned to oil and natural gas. Coal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels. 

When our use of fossil fuels was limited, there were no serious problems. But as our population has grown, and the level of industrialization has increased in the world, certain problems have become apparent: 

• Fossil fuels pollute the environment where they are burned, causing dangers to people and other living things. 
• The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide gas. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased substantially since the beginning of the industrial revolution, and the rate of increase is growing. This change in our atmosphere can lead to global warming. 
• Since fossil fuels are limited in quantity, their cost will increase as the most easily extracted fuel deposits are exhausted. When fuel costs increase, so will the costs of everything that requires fuel for production or transportation—including food, clothing, and housing. 

If we use the energy in sunlight directly, or harness wind energy which derives from sunlight, rather than fossil fuels, perhaps we can avoid some of these problems.

VI. Conclusion

When we enjoy the beauty of a tree we probably aren’t thinking of this marvelous structure as a carbon-based system that transforms sunlight and gases into food. A single cell in a tree leaf is a tiny chemical factory that uses light energy from the Sun plus water and carbon dioxide from the air to produce sugar. All life on the planet depends on this very commonplace but remarkable process.

While a leaf on a single oak tree may not seem terribly important at first glance, it takes on greater importance when we realize that energy cannot enter living systems without it. If we want to maintain a livable habitat on Earth, we need to learn as much as possible about how energy flows through living systems—from the level of a single cell to the level of the entire planet.

Life is fragile, yet has persevered on our planet for billions of years. We have energy flowing within us and all around us, from the minuscule energy flows in our nerve cells to the most powerful blasts of energy in volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and supernova explosions. While in our day to day experience we are mostly conscious of the moderate flows of energy around us (movement of cars and trucks, people walking and talking, waves on a beach, streams flowing), most of these modest energy flows stem from the inconceivably intense energy source in the core of the Sun. 

Recognizing the different forms of energy and how they flow through Earth systems is very important if we are to understand the natural processes on which our lives depend. Earthquakes and volcanoes depend on the way energy is released by radioactive materials deep inside the planet. Our climate and weather depend on the way solar energy heats the atmosphere, surface, and oceans. Life itself depends on the ability of green plants to combine water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight to produce food. The rare impact of a large comet, or a nearby supernova are other sources of energy that may someday have a profound effect on life as we know it.

While understanding the flow of energy is important from a scientific point of view, it can also enrich the way you perceive the world around you. We encourage you to appreciate the myriad varieties of energy flow surrounding you, much as you would appreciate works of art and music, which are themselves no more—and no less—than flows of energy.

EF9.1. Investigation: How Does the Flow of Energy Affect You?

This book has touched on a variety of ways that energy flows through the Earth system, making things happen. While we have focused on spectacular displays of energy from Mount St. Helens to a tornado, we have also discussed the way we experience energy everyday—in the form of wind, rain, warmth, light and sound, food, and the use of fossil fuels. 

1. Select one aspect of energy that is most relevant to your life or that you find most interesting. Write an outline for an essay about it that reveals:

• The source or sources of energy involved.
• How the energy is transformed from one form to another.
• How the energy flows through the Earth system.
• •How you experience the energy and why it is important to you.
• What happens to the energy after you experience it, keeping in mind the Law of Conservation of Energy.

2. Discuss your outline with a classmate. Ask questions to help you improve the essay, such as:

• Did I define the aspect of energy that I want to write about clearly?
• Did I show how the flow of energy is important to me?
• What have I forgotten to take into account?
• What could I do to help a reader who has not read Energy Flow to get interested in my essay, and understand my point of view?

3. Write a draft of the essay. Exchange essays with your friend. Give each other comments and suggestions, and write a final draft.

See Staying current for this chapter .

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Energy flow in ecosystems, in other languages.

The flow of energy in ecosystems is vitally important to the thriving of life on Earth. Nearly all of the energy in Earth's ecosystems originates within the Sun . Once this solar energy reaches Earth, it is distributed among ecosystems in an extremely complex manner. A simple way to analyze this distribution is through a food chain or food web . [2] As the US DOE says, "Biological processes depend on energy flow through the Earth system." [3]

All organisms, dead or alive, have potential for energy transfer in an ecosystem. [2] For example, a leaf is eaten by a caterpillar, which is eaten by a small bird, which is eaten by a hawk. If the leaf was left uneaten, it would fall to the ground and be decomposed by smaller organisms. Therefore little matter is actually wasted in ecosystems . [2]

However, energy is a different story. Due to the second law of thermodynamics , not all energy can be made full use of. Throughout the food chain the energy must be converted into useful work , which always yields wasted energy as heat . [2] See below, and visit the page on Entropy for more information.

A food chain catalogs the movement of this energy and nutrients from one organism to another.

Levels in the food chain

There are varying levels in a food chain, known as trophic levels , all starting at the producers which originally absorb the sun's light. [2] It then moves up to the organisms that eat or decompose it, which continues all the way to the apex predators (those that are no longer typically eaten by other animals) which can only decompose at a later point.

Each level contains a certain amount of biomass , which is transferred from one level to the next. This transfer is not very efficient however, and this is due to the second law of thermodynamics, as mentioned above. Only a portion of what is consumed is actually converted into usable biomass from level to level, with typical efficiencies of 2-40%. [2] This is known as ecological efficiency .

The more levels in the food chain, the more energy is lost as it gets to the top. Assuming a 10% efficiency, if there were 10 000 units of energy initially from the sun and 4 levels to the apex predator, each level would receive 10x less energy until the apex predator received just 1 unit of this energy. This example helps explain why there are countless decomposers and insects, while there is a visibly small amount of tigers, sharks, and eagles in the world. [2] It also explains why these top species are the first to experience extinction when their ecosystems are altered.

The video below from the US DOE [3]

For Further Reading

• Biomagnification
• Or explore a random page
• ↑ Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Simplified_food_chain.svg
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 G. Tyler Miller, Jr. and D. Hackett, "Ecosystems," in Living in the Environment , 2nd ed. USA: Nelson , 2011, ch.4, pp.55-86
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 For all of their energy literacy videos please see here .

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18.5: Energy Flow through Ecosystems

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Learning Objectives

• Describe how energy flows through ecosystems

All living things require energy in one form or another. Energy is required by most complex metabolic pathways (often in the form of adenosine triphosphate, ATP), especially those responsible for building large molecules from smaller compounds, and life itself is an energy-driven process. Living organisms would not be able to assemble macromolecules (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and complex carbohydrates) from their monomeric subunits without a constant energy input.

It is important to understand how organisms acquire energy and how that energy is passed from one organism to another through food webs and their constituent food chains. Food webs illustrate how energy flows directionally through ecosystems, including how efficiently organisms acquire it, use it, and how much remains for use by other organisms of the food web.

How Organisms Acquire Energy in a Food Web

Energy is acquired by living things in three ways: photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, and the consumption and digestion of other living or previously living organisms by heterotrophs.

Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms are both grouped into a category known as autotrophs: organisms capable of synthesizing their own food (more specifically, capable of using inorganic carbon as a carbon source). Photosynthetic autotrophs (photoautotrophs) use sunlight as an energy source, whereas chemosynthetic autotrophs (chemoautotrophs) use inorganic molecules as an energy source. Autotrophs are critical for all ecosystems. Without these organisms, energy would not be available to other living organisms and life itself would not be possible.

Photoautotrophs , such as plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, serve as the energy source for a majority of the world’s ecosystems. These ecosystems are often described by grazing food webs. Photoautotrophs harness the solar energy of the sun by converting it to chemical energy in the form of ATP (and NADP). The energy stored in ATP is used to synthesize complex organic molecules, such as glucose.

Chemoautotrophs are primarily bacteria that are found in rare ecosystems where sunlight is not available, such as in those associated with dark caves or hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean (Figure 1). Many chemoautotrophs in hydrothermal vents use hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), which is released from the vents as a source of chemical energy. This allows chemoautotrophs to synthesize complex organic molecules, such as glucose, for their own energy and in turn supplies energy to the rest of the ecosystem.

Productivity within Trophic Levels

Productivity within an ecosystem can be defined as the percentage of energy entering the ecosystem incorporated into biomass in a particular trophic level. Biomass is the total mass, in a unit area at the time of measurement, of living or previously living organisms within a trophic level. Ecosystems have characteristic amounts of biomass at each trophic level. For example, in the English Channel ecosystem the primary producers account for a biomass of 4 g/m 2 (grams per meter squared), while the primary consumers exhibit a biomass of 21 g/m 2 .

The productivity of the primary producers is especially important in any ecosystem because these organisms bring energy to other living organisms by photoautotrophy or chemoautotrophy. The rate at which photosynthetic primary producers incorporate energy from the sun is called gross primary productivity . An example of gross primary productivity is shown in the compartment diagram of energy flow in Howard T. Odum’s classical study of the Silver Springs, Florida, holistic ecosystem in the mid-twentieth century (Figure 2). This study shows the energy content and transfer between various ecosystem compartments. In this ecosystem, the total energy accumulated by the primary producers (gross primary productivity) was shown to be 20,810 kcal/m 2 /yr.

Practice Question

Why do you think the value for gross productivity of the primary producers is the same as the value for total heat and respiration (20,810 kcal/m 2 /yr)?

[practice-area rows=”2″][/practice-area] [reveal-answer q=”439384″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”439384″]According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Eventually, all energy consumed by living systems is lost as heat or used for respiration, and the total energy output of the system must equal the energy that went into it.[/hidden-answer]

Because all organisms need to use some of this energy for their own functions (like respiration and resulting metabolic heat loss) scientists often refer to the net primary productivity of an ecosystem. Net primary productivity is the energy that remains in the primary producers after accounting for the organisms’ respiration and heat loss. The net productivity is then available to the primary consumers at the next trophic level. In our Silver Spring example, 13,187 of the 20,810 kcal/m 2 /yr were used for respiration or were lost as heat, leaving 7,632 kcal/m 2 /yr of energy for use by the primary consumers.

Ecological Efficiency

As illustrated in Figure 2, large amounts of energy are lost from the ecosystem from one trophic level to the next level as energy flows from the primary producers through the various trophic levels of consumers and decomposers. The main reason for this loss is the second law of thermodynamics, which states that whenever energy is converted from one form to another, there is a tendency toward disorder (entropy) in the system. In biologic systems, this means a great deal of energy is lost as metabolic heat when the organisms from one trophic level consume the next level. In the Silver Springs ecosystem example (Figure 2), we see that the primary consumers produced 1103 kcal/m 2 /yr from the 7618 kcal/m 2 /yr of energy available to them from the primary producers. The measurement of energy transfer efficiency between two successive trophic levels is termed the trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) and is defined by the formula:

In Silver Springs, the TLTE between the first two trophic levels was approximately 14.8 percent. The low efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is usually the major factor that limits the length of food chains observed in a food web. The fact is, after four to six energy transfers, there is not enough energy left to support another trophic level. Returning to the Lake Ontario example (shown in Figure 3), only three energy transfers occurred between the primary producer, (green algae), and the apex consumer (Chinook salmon).

Ecologists have many different methods of measuring energy transfers within ecosystems. Some transfers are easier or more difficult to measure depending on the complexity of the ecosystem and how much access scientists have to observe the ecosystem. In other words, some ecosystems are more difficult to study than others, and sometimes the quantification of energy transfers has to be estimated.

Another main parameter that is important in characterizing energy flow within an ecosystem is the net production efficiency. Net production efficiency (NPE) allows ecologists to quantify how efficiently organisms of a particular trophic level incorporate the energy they receive into biomass; it is calculated using the following formula:

Net consumer productivity is the energy content available to the organisms of the next trophic level. Assimilation is the biomass (energy content generated per unit area) of the present trophic level after accounting for the energy lost due to incomplete ingestion of food, energy used for respiration, and energy lost as waste. Incomplete ingestion refers to the fact that some consumers eat only a part of their food. For example, when a lion kills an antelope, it will eat everything except the hide and bones. The lion is missing the energy-rich bone marrow inside the bone, so the lion does not make use of all the calories its prey could provide.

Thus, NPE measures how efficiently each trophic level uses and incorporates the energy from its food into biomass to fuel the next trophic level. In general, cold-blooded animals (ectotherms), such as invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles, use less of the energy they obtain for respiration and heat than warm-blooded animals (endotherms), such as birds and mammals. The extra heat generated in endotherms, although an advantage in terms of the activity of these organisms in colder environments, is a major disadvantage in terms of NPE. Therefore, many endotherms have to eat more often than ectotherms to get the energy they need for survival. In general, NPE for ectotherms is an order of magnitude (10x) higher than for endotherms. For example, the NPE for a caterpillar eating leaves has been measured at 18 percent, whereas the NPE for a squirrel eating acorns may be as low as 1.6 percent.

The inefficiency of energy use by warm-blooded animals has broad implications for the world’s food supply. It is widely accepted that the meat industry uses large amounts of crops to feed livestock, and because the NPE is low, much of the energy from animal feed is lost. For example, it costs about 1¢ to produce 1000 dietary calories (kcal) of corn or soybeans, but approximately $0.19 to produce a similar number of calories growing cattle for beef consumption. The same energy content of milk from cattle is also costly, at approximately $0.16 per 1000 kcal. Much of this difference is due to the low NPE of cattle. Thus, there has been a growing movement worldwide to promote the consumption of non-meat and non-dairy foods so that less energy is wasted feeding animals for the meat industry.

Ecological Pyramids

The structure of ecosystems can be visualized with ecological pyramids, which were first described by the pioneering studies of Charles Elton in the 1920s. Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of various parameters (such as number of organisms, energy, and biomass) across trophic levels.

Pyramids of numbers can be either upright or inverted, depending on the ecosystem. As shown in Figure 4, typical grassland during the summer has a base of many plants and the numbers of organisms decrease at each trophic level. However, during the summer in a temperate forest, the base of the pyramid consists of few trees compared with the number of primary consumers, mostly insects. Because trees are large, they have great photosynthetic capability, and dominate other plants in this ecosystem to obtain sunlight. Even in smaller numbers, primary producers in forests are still capable of supporting other trophic levels.

Another way to visualize ecosystem structure is with pyramids of biomass. This pyramid measures the amount of energy converted into living tissue at the different trophic levels. Using the Silver Springs ecosystem example, this data exhibits an upright biomass pyramid (Figure 4), whereas the pyramid from the English Channel example is inverted. The plants (primary producers) of the Silver Springs ecosystem make up a large percentage of the biomass found there. However, the phytoplankton in the English Channel example make up less biomass than the primary consumers, the zooplankton. As with inverted pyramids of numbers, this inverted pyramid is not due to a lack of productivity from the primary producers, but results from the high turnover rate of the phytoplankton. The phytoplankton are consumed rapidly by the primary consumers, thus, minimizing their biomass at any particular point in time. However, phytoplankton reproduce quickly, thus they are able to support the rest of the ecosystem.

Pyramid ecosystem modeling can also be used to show energy flow through the trophic levels. Notice that these numbers are the same as those used in the energy flow compartment diagram in Figure 2. Pyramids of energy are always upright, and an ecosystem without sufficient primary productivity cannot be supported. All types of ecological pyramids are useful for characterizing ecosystem structure. However, in the study of energy flow through the ecosystem, pyramids of energy are the most consistent and representative models of ecosystem structure (Figure 4).

Pyramids depicting the number of organisms or biomass may be inverted, upright, or even diamond-shaped. Energy pyramids, however, are always upright. Why?

[practice-area rows=”2″][/practice-area] [reveal-answer q=”924780″]Show Answer[/reveal-answer] [hidden-answer a=”924780″]Pyramids of organisms may be inverted or diamond-shaped because a large organism, such as a tree, can sustain many smaller organisms. Likewise, a low biomass of organisms can sustain a larger biomass at the next trophic level because the organisms reproduce rapidly and thus supply continuous nourishment. Energy pyramids, however, must always be upright because of the laws of thermodynamics. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; thus, each trophic level must acquire energy from the trophic level below. The second law of thermodynamics states that, during the transfer of energy, some energy is always lost as heat; thus, less energy is available at each higher trophic level.[/hidden-answer]

Pyramids of organisms may be inverted or diamond-shaped because a large organism, such as a tree, can sustain many smaller organisms. Likewise, a low biomass of organisms can sustain a larger biomass at the next trophic level because the organisms reproduce rapidly and thus supply continuous nourishment. Energy pyramids, however, must always be upright because of the laws of thermodynamics. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; thus, each trophic level must acquire energy from the trophic level below. The second law of thermodynamics states that, during the transfer of energy, some energy is always lost as heat; thus, less energy is available at each higher trophic level.

Organisms in an ecosystem acquire energy in a variety of ways, which is transferred between trophic levels as the energy flows from the bottom to the top of the food web, with energy being lost at each transfer. The efficiency of these transfers is important for understanding the different behaviors and eating habits of warm-blooded versus cold-blooded animals. Modeling of ecosystem energy is best done with ecological pyramids of energy, although other ecological pyramids provide other vital information about ecosystem structure.

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20.1 Energy Flow through Ecosystems

Learning objectives.

• Describe the basic types of ecosystems on Earth
• Differentiate between food chains and food webs and recognize the importance of each
• Describe how organisms acquire energy in a food web and in associated food chains
• Explain how the efficiency of energy transfers between trophic levels affects ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their abiotic (non-living) environment. Ecosystems can be small, such as the tide pools found near the rocky shores of many oceans, or large, such as those found in the tropical rainforest of the Amazon in Brazil ( Figure 20.2 ).

There are three broad categories of ecosystems based on their general environment: freshwater, marine, and terrestrial. Within these three categories are individual ecosystem types based on the environmental habitat and organisms present.

Ecology of Ecosystems

Life in an ecosystem often involves competition for limited resources, which occurs both within a single species and between different species. Organisms compete for food, water, sunlight, space, and mineral nutrients. These resources provide the energy for metabolic processes and the matter to make up organisms’ physical structures. Other critical factors influencing community dynamics are the components of its physical environment: a habitat’s climate (seasons, sunlight, and rainfall), elevation, and geology. These can all be important environmental variables that determine which organisms can exist within a particular area.

Freshwater ecosystems are the least common, occurring on only 1.8 percent of Earth's surface. These systems comprise lakes, rivers, streams, and springs; they are quite diverse, and support a variety of animals, plants, fungi, protists and prokaryotes.

Marine ecosystems are the most common, comprising 75 percent of Earth's surface and consisting of three basic types: shallow ocean, deep ocean water, and deep ocean bottom. Shallow ocean ecosystems include extremely biodiverse coral reef ecosystems, yet the deep ocean water is known for large numbers of plankton and krill (small crustaceans) that support it. These two environments are especially important to aerobic respirators worldwide, as the phytoplankton perform 40 percent of all photosynthesis on Earth. Although not as diverse as the other two, deep ocean bottom ecosystems contain a wide variety of marine organisms. Such ecosystems exist even at depths where light is unable to penetrate through the water.

Terrestrial ecosystems, also known for their diversity, are grouped into large categories called biomes. A biome is a large-scale community of organisms, primarily defined on land by the dominant plant types that exist in geographic regions of the planet with similar climatic conditions. Examples of biomes include tropical rainforests, savannas, deserts, grasslands, temperate forests, and tundras. Grouping these ecosystems into just a few biome categories obscures the great diversity of the individual ecosystems within them. For example, the saguaro cacti ( Carnegiea gigantean ) and other plant life in the Sonoran Desert, in the United States, are relatively diverse compared with the desolate rocky desert of Boa Vista, an island off the coast of Western Africa ( Figure 20.3 ).

Ecosystems and Disturbance

Ecosystems are complex with many interacting parts. They are routinely exposed to various disturbances: changes in the environment that affect their compositions, such as yearly variations in rainfall and temperature. Many disturbances are a result of natural processes. For example, when lightning causes a forest fire and destroys part of a forest ecosystem, the ground is eventually populated with grasses, followed by bushes and shrubs, and later mature trees: thus, the forest is restored to its former state. This process is so universal that ecologists have given it a name—succession. The impact of environmental disturbances caused by human activities is now as significant as the changes wrought by natural processes. Human agricultural practices, air pollution, acid rain, global deforestation, overfishing, oil spills, and illegal dumping on land and into the ocean all have impacts on ecosystems.

Equilibrium is a dynamic state of an ecosystem in which, despite changes in species numbers and occurrence, biodiversity remains somewhat constant. In ecology, two parameters are used to measure changes in ecosystems: resistance and resilience. The ability of an ecosystem to remain at equilibrium in spite of disturbances is called resistance . The speed at which an ecosystem recovers equilibrium after being disturbed is called resilience . Ecosystem resistance and resilience are especially important when considering human impact. The nature of an ecosystem may change to such a degree that it can lose its resilience entirely. This process can lead to the complete destruction or irreversible altering of the ecosystem.

Food Chains and Food Webs

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another; the levels in the food chain are producers, primary consumers, higher-level consumers, and finally decomposers. These levels are used to describe ecosystem structure and dynamics. There is a single path through a food chain. Each organism in a food chain occupies a specific trophic level (energy level), its position in the food chain or food web.

In many ecosystems, the base, or foundation, of the food chain consists of photosynthetic organisms (plants or phytoplankton), which are called producers . The organisms that consume the producers are herbivores: the primary consumers . Secondary consumers are usually carnivores that eat the primary consumers. Tertiary consumers are carnivores that eat other carnivores. Higher-level consumers feed on the next lower trophic levels, and so on, up to the organisms at the top of the food chain: the apex consumers . In the Lake Ontario food chain, shown in Figure 20.4 , the Chinook salmon is the apex consumer at the top of this food chain.

One major factor that limits the number of steps in a food chain is energy. Energy is lost at each trophic level and between trophic levels as heat and in the transfer to decomposers ( Figure 20.5 ). Thus, after a limited number of trophic energy transfers, the amount of energy remaining in the food chain may not be great enough to support viable populations at yet a higher trophic level.

There is a one problem when using food chains to describe most ecosystems. Even when all organisms are grouped into appropriate trophic levels, some of these organisms can feed on more than one trophic level; likewise, some of these organisms can also be fed on from multiple trophic levels. In addition, species feed on and are eaten by more than one species. In other words, the linear model of ecosystems, the food chain, is a hypothetical, overly simplistic representation of ecosystem structure. A holistic model—which includes all the interactions between different species and their complex interconnected relationships with each other and with the environment—is a more accurate and descriptive model for ecosystems. A food web is a concept that accounts for the multiple trophic (feeding) interactions between each species and the many species it may feed on, or that feed on it. In a food web, the several trophic connections between each species and the other species that interact with it may cross multiple trophic levels. The matter and energy movements of virtually all ecosystems are more accurately described by food webs ( Figure 20.6 ).

Link to Learning

Head to this online interactive simulator to investigate food web function. In the Interactive Labs box, under underline Food Web end underline , click Step 1 . Read the instructions first, and then click Step 2 for additional instructions. When you are ready to create a simulation, in the upper-right corner of the Interactive Labs box, click OPEN SIMULATOR .

Two general types of food webs are often shown interacting within a single ecosystem. A grazing food web has plants or other photosynthetic organisms at its base, followed by herbivores and various carnivores. A detrital food web consists of a base of organisms that feed on decaying organic matter (dead organisms), including decomposers (which break down dead and decaying organisms) and detritivores (which consume organic detritus). These organisms are usually bacteria, fungi, and invertebrate animals that recycle organic material back into the biotic part of the ecosystem as they themselves are consumed by other organisms. As ecosystems require a method to recycle material from dead organisms, grazing food webs have an associated detrital food web. For example, in a meadow ecosystem, plants may support a grazing food web of different organisms, primary and other levels of consumers, while at the same time supporting a detrital food web of bacteria and fungi feeding off dead plants and animals. Simultaneously, a detrital food web can contribute energy to a grazing food web, as when a robin eats an earthworm.

How Organisms Acquire Energy in a Food Web

All living things require energy in one form or another. Energy is used by most complex metabolic pathways (usually in the form of ATP), especially those responsible for building large molecules from smaller compounds. Living organisms would not be able to assemble macromolecules (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and complex carbohydrates) from their monomers without a constant energy input.

Food-web diagrams illustrate how energy flows directionally through ecosystems. They can also indicate how efficiently organisms acquire energy, use it, and how much remains for use by other organisms of the food web. Energy is acquired by living things in two ways: autotrophs harness light or chemical energy and heterotrophs acquire energy through the consumption and digestion of other living or previously living organisms.

Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms are autotrophs , which are organisms capable of synthesizing their own food (more specifically, capable of using inorganic carbon as a carbon source). Photosynthetic autotrophs ( photoautotrophs ) use sunlight as an energy source, and chemosynthetic autotrophs ( chemoautotrophs ) use inorganic molecules as an energy source. Autotrophs are critical for most ecosystems: they are the producer trophic level. Without these organisms, energy would not be available to other living organisms, and life itself would not be possible.

Photoautotrophs, such as plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, are the energy source for a majority of the world’s ecosystems. These ecosystems are often described by grazing and detrital food webs. Photoautotrophs harness the Sun’s solar energy by converting it to chemical energy in the form of ATP (and NADP). The energy stored in ATP is used to synthesize complex organic molecules, such as glucose. The rate at which photosynthetic producers incorporate energy from the Sun is called gross primary productivity . However, not all of the energy incorporated by producers is available to the other organisms in the food web because producers must also grow and reproduce, which consumes energy. Net primary productivity is the energy that remains in the producers after accounting for these organisms’ respiration and heat loss. The net productivity is then available to the primary consumers at the next trophic level.

Chemoautotrophs are primarily bacteria and archaea that are found in rare ecosystems where sunlight is not available, such as those associated with dark caves or hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean ( Figure 20.7 ). Many chemoautotrophs in hydrothermal vents use hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), which is released from the vents as a source of chemical energy; this allows them to synthesize complex organic molecules, such as glucose, for their own energy and, in turn, supplies energy to the rest of the ecosystem.

Consequences of Food Webs: Biological Magnification

One of the most important consequences of ecosystem dynamics in terms of human impact is biomagnification. Biomagnification is the increasing concentration of persistent, toxic substances in organisms at each successive trophic level. These are substances that are fat soluble, not water soluble, and are stored in the fat reserves of each organism. Many substances have been shown to biomagnify, including classical studies with the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which were described in the 1960s bestseller, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. DDT was a commonly used pesticide before its dangers to apex consumers, such as the bald eagle, became known. In aquatic ecosystems, organisms from each trophic level consumed many organisms in the lower level, which caused DDT to increase in birds (apex consumers) that ate fish. Thus, the birds accumulated sufficient amounts of DDT to cause fragility in their eggshells. This effect increased egg breakage during nesting and was shown to have devastating effects on these bird populations. The use of DDT was banned in the United States in the 1970s.

Other substances that biomagnify are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), which were used as coolant liquids in the United States until their use was banned in 1979, and heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. These substances are best studied in aquatic ecosystems, where predatory fish species accumulate very high concentrations of toxic substances that are at quite low concentrations in the environment and in producers. As illustrated in a study performed by the NOAA in the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron of the North American Great Lakes ( Figure 20.8 ), PCB concentrations increased from the producers of the ecosystem (phytoplankton) through the different trophic levels of fish species. The apex consumer, the walleye, has more than four times the amount of PCBs compared to phytoplankton. Also, based on results from other studies, birds that eat these fish may have PCB levels at least one order of magnitude higher than those found in the lake fish.

Other concerns have been raised by the biomagnification of heavy metals, such as mercury and cadmium, in certain types of seafood. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pregnant people and young children should not consume any swordfish, shark, king mackerel, or tilefish because of their high mercury content. These individuals are advised to eat fish low in mercury: salmon, shrimp, pollock, and catfish. Biomagnification is a good example of how ecosystem dynamics can affect our everyday lives, even influencing the food we eat.

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• Authors: Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
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• Book title: Concepts of Biology
• Publication date: Apr 25, 2013
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/20-1-energy-flow-through-ecosystems

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• Parturition And Lactation - Biology Notes Class 12

Chapter 3: Reproductive Health

• Notes on NCERT for Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 Reproductive Health
• Population Stabilization And Birth Control - Class 12
• Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIS) of Reproductive Health Class 12

Chapter 4: Principles Of Inheritance And Variation

• Principles of Inheritance and Variation CBSE Notes for Chapter 4
• Mendel's Laws of Inheritance | Mendel's Experiments
• Inheritance of One Gene Notes
• Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
• Linkage And Recombination - Principles Of Inheritance And Variation Class 12 NCERT
• What is Polygenic Inheritance?
• Pleiotropy - An Overview and Related Disorders
• Sex Determination
• Pedigree Analysis
• Mendelian Disorder in Human
• Chromosomal Disorders: Principles of Inheritance And Variation Class12

Chapter 5: Molecular Basis Of Inheritance

• Evolution Notes for Class 12 Chapter 6
• Molecular Basis of Inheritance Notes Class 12
• DNA: Structure, Types, and Functions
• Packaging of DNA Helix: Histones & Importance
• Search For Genetic Material - Molecular Basis Of Inheritance
• Difference Between DNA and RNA
• RNA - Definition, Structure, Types and Functions
• DNA Replication
• The Experimental Proof Of DNA Replication
• Transcription of DNA
• Genetic Code - Molecular Basis of Inheritance
• Genetic Code And Mutations
• tRNA - the Adapter Molecule
• RNA Translation
• Human Genome Project
• What is DNA Fingerprinting?

Chapter 6: Evolution

• Origin of Life
• Evolution Of Life Forms – A Theory
• What is Adaptive Radiation?
• Hardy-Weinberg Principle
• Evolution Of Humans - History, Stages, Characteristics, FAQs

Chapter 7: Human Health and Disease

• NCERT Notes on Class 12 Biology Chapter 7 - Human Health and Disease
• Common Diseases In Humans
• Immunity - Definition, Types and Vaccination
• Innate And Acquired Immunity
• What are HIV and AIDS?
• Difference Between Vaccination And Immunization
• What is Cancer? Introduction, Types, Stages, Treatment
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Control
• Adolescence and Drug Abuse
• Addiction And Dependence

Chapter 8: Microbes In Human Welfare

• Microbes in Human Welfare Notes
• Microbes In Human Welfare
• Biofertilizers

Chapter 9: Biotechnology _ Principles And Processes

• NCERT Notes Biology Class 12 Chapter 9 Biotechnology: Principles and Processes
• Restriction Enzymes
• Competent Host in Recombinant DNA
• Recombinant DNA Technology

Chapter 10: Biotechnology and Its Application

• CBSE Class 12 Biology Biotechnology And Its Application Revision Notes
• Application of Biotechnology
• Genetically Engineered Insulin
• Biotechnology And Its Application- Gene Therapy
• Molecular Diagnosis
• Transgenic Animals Notes - Biotechnology And Its Application
• Ethical Issues Related to Genetically Modified Organisms

Chapter 11: Organisms And Populations

• Organism and Population Notes Class 12 Biology Chapter 11
• Responses To Abiotic Factors - Organisms And Populations
• What is Adaptation?
• Population Attributes - Overview Notes- Class 12
• Population Growth - CBSE Class 12
• Population Interactions
• What Is Parasitism? Definition, Types and Examples
• Commensalism

Chapter 12: Ecosystem

• Ecosystem Notes Class 12 Biology Chapter 12
• What is Ecosystem? Definition, Structure, Types, and Functions

Energy Flow of Ecosystem

• Ecological Pyramid - Definition, Types, Importance, Limitations
• Ecological Succession - Definition, Types, Characteristics, Causes
• What is Nutrient Cycling?
• Carbon Cycle
• Phosphorus Cycle
• Types of Ecosystem Services - CBSE Class 12- Ecosystem

Chapter 13: Biodiversity and Its Conservation

• Biodiversity and Conservation Notes Class 12 Chapter 13
• How Many Species Are There On Earth And How Many In India?
• Pattern of Biodiversity
• In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation of Biodiversity

NCERT Solutions

• NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 12 Biology
• Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants NCERT Solutions
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chapter 2 Human Reproduction
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 3 Reproductive Health
• NCERT Solutions Class 12 Biology Chapter 4 Principles of Inheritance and Variation
• NCERT Solutions Class 12 Biology Chapter 5 Molecular Basis of Inheritance
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 6 Evolution
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 7 Human Health and Disease
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 8
• NCERT Solutions Class-12 Chapter 9 Biotechnology: Principles and Processes
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 10 Biotechnology and Its Applications
• CBSE Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 11 Organisms and Populations
• CBSE Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 13 Biodiversity and Conservation

The energy flow of ecosystem means the pathway energy takes to move from one organism to another in an ecosystem. The energy flow of an ecosystem is a fundamental concept of ecological studies. The direction of flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional and is typically in the form of food energy that flows from one trophic level to another. It harnesses the energy that cascades through the food chain and food webs. Read this article to learn about energy flow in ecosystem notes, the laws of thermodynamics that govern it, and the mechanism of energy flow.

Table of Content

What is Ecosystem?

What is energy flow of ecosystem, energy flow of ecosystem diagram, laws of thermodynamics in ecosystem, what is the direction of energy flow of energy in an ecosystem, mechanism of energy flow in ecosystem, significance of energy flow in ecosystem.

An ecosystem consists of plants, animals, and their physical environment. It is an area in which all these components interact with each other. An ecosystem has biotic components (living) which include plants, animals, and humans, and it also contains abiotic components (non-living) such as soil, air, water, etc. An ecosystem contains various levels called trophic levels. There is a flow of energy from one trophic level to the other which sustains the ecosystem. In this article, we shall discuss the energy flow in an ecosystem in detail.

Energy flow in an ecosystem is defined as the movement or transfer of energy from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem. The energy that is passed is in the form of chemical energy.

Energy flow is the phenomenon that is responsible to sustain life on this planet. All the biotic components in this ecosystem need energy for their survival. If the energy flow in an ecosystem is disturbed, then it leads to ecological imbalance. This energy flow occurs on the Earth through the biogeochemical cycle .

The diagram of energy flow of ecosystem is given below:

The energy flow in an ecosystem is governed by the first two laws of thermodynamics . These two laws are explained as follows;

• First Law of thermodynamics: It states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it keeps changing from one form to the other. Similarly in an ecosystem, the main source of energy is the sun, and this energy from the sun is transferred from one level to the other.
• Second Law of thermodynamics: It states that when energy transforms from one form to another, some part of it is lost as heat to the surroundings. Thus the energy at one level is never completely transferred to the other.

The direction of the energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional. It flows from the primary source of energy i.e. the sun’s light energy to producers or autotrophs which then transferred to the consumers. The producer uses the solar energy to produce organic food which flows through a series of trophic levels. Each trophic level captures a portion of this energy for its metabolic needs, while the rest is passed to the next level. The flow of energy follows the following pathway;

Solar Energy –> Producer (autotrophs) –> Consumer (herbivores) –> Consumer (carnivores) –> Consumer (higher levels of carnivores)

Animals get energy in two forms: radiant energy and fixed energy. Radiant energy comes from electromagnetic waves , like light. Fixed energy is stored in objects and substances as chemical energy.

Organisms that convert radiant energy to fixed energy are called autotrophs. Heterotrophs get their energy from autotrophs. The sun is the main source of energy in our ecosystem. But less than half of the sun’s energy is used by plants for photosynthesis i.e. 50% of this energy is photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) .

Plants convert radiant energy to fixed energy and pass it on to other organisms. When the sun shines on plants, they use it along with carbon dioxide and water to make glucose and oxygen. The oxygen goes into the atmosphere and the glucose stays in the plant. When herbivores eat plants, they get energy from the plant. Some of this energy is lost as heat.

When carnivores eat herbivores, there is again a loss of some energy. We call this the 10% law because only 10% of the energy available at one level is transferred to the next level. The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional, meaning it only goes in one direction. We can’t transfer energy to a previous level. To understand this, we need to learn about trophic levels and the food chain.

Trophic Levels

An ecosystem is divided into various levels called trophic levels. Various trophic levels are as follows:

• First trophic level: This level is occupied by the producers which include the plants.
• Second trophic level: It is occupied by the primary consumers that consume plants. For example herbivores such as cows, goats, etc.
• Third Trophic Level: This level is occupied by the primary carnivores or secondary consumers such as snakes, frogs, birds, etc.
• Fourth trophic level: Large carnivores that are also called tertiary consumers make up this level. Example: Lion, Tiger, Cheetah, etc.

The food chain represents the flow of energy from one level to the other in an ecosystem. It is based on the fact that an organism is consumed by another organism in the ecosystem. In general, the food chain exists only in small ecosystems , and this is replaced by a food web in complex ecosystems.

In the above food chain:

• In the first stage, plants are eaten by herbivores such as grasshoppers.
• Then herbivores such as deer are consumed by carnivores such as lions, tigers, etc.
• On the death of carnivores, they are consumed by scavengers such as eagles and vultures.
• When vultures die, their bodies are broken down by bacteria and fungi to nutrients.
• These nutrients are again used by the plants for their growth.

Following are some of the significance of Energy Flow in an Ecosystem;

• It is vital for all living thing sin ecosystem to survive and function properly.
• It helps us to understand who eats whom in nature.
• More the diversity of organisms more stable the ecosystem is.
• It shows how all creatures in an ecosystem depend on each other and how changes can affect each other.
• It helps us to see how human action are affecting the ecosystem.
• Understanding the flow of energy in an ecosystem helps us to devise proper conservation techniques to save the ecosystem.

Conclusion – Energy Flow of Ecosystem

The energy flow of an ecosystem is essential for ecological balance. Energy flow involves the transfer of energy from one organism to another, primarily through food. This flow is governed by the laws of thermodynamics. It is unidirectional from the sun to producers and then to consumers, sustaining life. Understanding trophic levels and the food chain helps in learning about the process of flow of energy in ecosystem which is crucial for maintaining biodiversity.

Also Read: Difference between food chain and food web The Functions of Ecosystem Ecological Pyramid Biotic Vs Abiotic Components of the Ecosystem

FAQs on Energy Flow of Ecosystem

Explain energy flow in ecosystem class 11.

Energy flow in an ecosystem is defined as the movement or transfer of energy from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem.

What is the Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Called?

Calories is the unit that is used to measure the energy content of food. So the energy flow in an ecosystem is called calorific flow.

How Many Types of Energy Flow in Ecosystem are There?

There are two types of energy flow in an eosystem i.e. the radiant energy of sun or solar energy, and the fixed energy.

What is 10% Rule?

As per the 10% rule the flow of energy from one trophic level to another will only be 10% of the total energy as the rest 90% energy will be used for metabolism and loss in the form of heat.

Who Discovered Energy Flow?

Energy flow in an ecosystem in the form of 10% rule was discovered by Raymond Linderman in the year 1942.

What is the Direction of Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem?

The direction of energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional i.e moving from the primary source, usually sunlight, to producers, then to consumers and decomposers.

What is the Universal Model of Energy Flow?

The universal model of energy flow is a Y-shaped model which was developed by E.P. Odum in 1983. It is called universal as it can be applied to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, and to any living component.

Why is the Energy Flow Unidirectional?

The energy flow is unidirectional because only producers can convert solar energy to chemical energy which then moves to higher trophic levels.

What are the Energy Sources and Flows?

Energy sources in an ecosystem begin from the sun that provides radiant energy, which is converted to chemical energy by producers. This energy is then transferred through the food chain or web to consumers, ultimately exiting the ecosystem as heat.

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Energy Flow in Ecosystem

Table of Contents

Introduction

Life on Earth is sustained by a delicate and intricate web of interactions among living organisms and their environment. Ecosystems, the biological communities of interacting organisms and their physical surroundings, function as dynamic entities where energy continuously circulates through various living and non-living components. Energy flow in ecosystems is the lifeblood that drives the survival, growth, and reproduction of countless species, maintaining the delicate balance of nature.

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The Basics of Energy Flow: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

At the heart of the energy flow in ecosystems lie the trophic levels, which categorize organisms based on their feeding relationships. There are three main trophic levels:

At the bottom of the food chain, are the primary producers, usually plants, algae, and certain bacteria. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by converting solar energy into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. In this remarkable process, producers use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. This conversion of solar energy into chemical energy forms the foundation of the food chain.

Consumers include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Herbivores feed solely on plant material, while carnivores consume other animals. Omnivores have a diverse diet, including both plant and animal matter. Consumers obtain their energy by consuming the tissues of producers or other consumers.

Decomposers

Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria play a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter, including the remains of producers and consumers. Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the environment, making them available for the next generation of producers. This decomposition process completes the energy flow cycle and is essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

The Laws Governing Energy Flow

The transfer of energy from one trophic level to another is governed by two fundamental laws:

• The Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms. In ecosystems, this means that the total amount of energy remains constant, but its form and availability for living organisms can change.
• The Second Law of Thermodynamics: Also known as the law of entropy, this principle states that energy transformations are never 100% efficient. As energy flows through trophic levels, some of it is lost as heat, and the overall energy available to higher trophic levels decreases. This phenomenon is why food chains typically have a limited number of links.

Energy Transfer Efficiency

The 10% law, also known as the 10% rule, is a fundamental ecological principle that governs the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem. This law states that, as energy moves through the trophic levels, a significant amount is lost at each transfer. This loss of energy occurs mainly through metabolic processes, heat production, and waste. On average, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next. For example, if a plant captures 100 units of solar energy, a herbivore that eats the plant will obtain only 10 units of energy, and a carnivore that eats the herbivore will receive just 1 unit of energy. This is a crucial aspect of energy flow and has implications for the structure and stability of ecosystems.

Implications of Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Food Chain Length: The limited energy transfer efficiency explains why food chains tend to be relatively short in nature. Rarely do ecosystems support long food chains due to the rapid decrease in available energy as we move up the trophic levels.
• Ecosystem Stability: Energy flow is vital in maintaining the stability of ecosystems. Any disruption in the flow of energy can lead to significant imbalances, potentially causing population declines, extinctions, and disturbances in the overall structure of the ecosystem.
• Biological Productivity: The rate at which primary producers capture and store solar energy through photosynthesis determines the ecosystem’s productivity. High productivity supports larger populations and more complex food webs.
• Human Impact: Understanding energy flow in ecosystems is essential for humans to make informed decisions about natural resource management, conservation efforts, and sustainable practices. Human activities can alter energy flow and disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems, leading to unintended consequences.

Energy flow is the fundamental process that sustains life within ecosystems. From the sun’s energy captured by primary producers to its conversion and utilization by consumers and decomposers, the flow of energy links all living organisms in a complex and intricate balance of life.

FAQs on Energy Flow in Ecosystem

What is energy flow in ecosystems.

Energy flow in ecosystems refers to the movement of energy through various trophic levels, starting with primary producers (plants) that capture solar energy through photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred to herbivores (primary consumers), carnivores (secondary consumers), and sometimes to higher-level consumers (tertiary consumers). Throughout this process, energy is used by organisms for growth, reproduction, and metabolic activities, with a significant portion lost as heat at each trophic level.

Why is energy flow essential in ecosystems?

Energy flow is essential because it sustains life within ecosystems. It supports the growth and survival of organisms at different trophic levels, ensuring the overall functioning and stability of the ecosystem. Without energy flow, living organisms would not have the necessary resources to survive and reproduce, and the delicate balance of nature would be disrupted.

Why do food chains in ecosystems tend to be relatively short?

Food chains in ecosystems tend to be relatively short due to the 10% law. As energy is transferred between trophic levels, its availability decreases significantly. By the time we reach higher trophic levels, there is not enough energy left to support additional links in the food chain. Consequently, most ecosystems have shorter food chains, where energy is more efficiently utilized by a smaller number of trophic levels.

How does the 10% law impact the productivity of ecosystems?

The 10% law has implications for the biological productivity of ecosystems. The rate at which primary producers capture and store solar energy through photosynthesis determines the overall productivity of the ecosystem. High productivity supports larger populations and more complex food webs. Conversely, low productivity may limit the number of consumers an ecosystem can sustain.

How can human activities impact energy flow in ecosystems?

Human activities can significantly impact energy flow in ecosystems. Deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources can disrupt food chains, leading to imbalances and potential population declines or extinctions. Sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and responsible resource management are crucial to maintain the integrity of energy flow and preserve the health of ecosystems.

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461 Energy Essay Topics to Write about & Examples

🔝 top 10 topics related to energy, 🏆 best energy topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good energy essay topics, 📑 interesting topics to write about energy, 🔍 good research topics about energy.

• 🎓 Energy Writing Prompts

📌 Simple & Easy Energy Essay Titles

Welcome to our ultimate list of topics related to energy! Here, you will find solar energy essay topics, interesting titles for energy projects, writing ideas about environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources, research titles on trending issues, and more.

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• “Windfall Taxes on Energy Are All the Rage They Shouldn’t Be” by Mintz As such, the editors expound that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to governments from Europe to the United States grappling with energy alternatives due to its scarcity.
• Å Energi IT Infrastructure and Strategic Solutions The company aspires to expand its operations in the Eastern and Southern parts of the United States of America to serve the local population.
• The EON Firm as an Energy Service Provider The major factor that sets EON apart from other companies within the same industry is that it is It is one of the largest energy providers in the globe, and yet it does not have […]
• The Role of Renewable Energy in Addressing Electricity Demand in Zambia In this regard, ZESCO Limited, the Zambian power utility company, has an obligation to generate and supply the electricity in the country.
• IT Services in the Energy Industry Companies Although the existing literature on the topic of digital transformation is abundant, the area of IT service management within the context of the larger digitalization of organizations is surprisingly underresearched.
• Energy: Types and Conversion Process This process is called energy conversion, and it is one of the most important concepts in understanding energy. An example of energy conversion in daily activities is the shift from electric energy to heat in […]
• The Caribbean Culture: Energy Security and Poverty Issues Globally, Latin American and the Caribbean also has the most expensive energy products and services because of fuel deprivation in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions.
• Low-Carbon Multi-Energy Options in the UAE S, and Mohamad, M.O.A.’Transition to low-carbon hydrogen energy system in the UAE: sector efficiency and hydrogen energy production efficiency analysis. The authors found that the UAE should put industry and transportation first in the transfer […]
• ExxonMobil: Shaping the Future of Energy Through Innovation and Responsibility ExxonMobil, one of the world’s major publicly-listed energy suppliers and chemical manufacturers, manufactures and deploys next-generation technologies to help fulfill the world’s expanding demand for energy consumption and high-quality chemical products safely and responsibly.
• Water and Energy Problems in Mining Industry The goal is to find and recommend solutions for mining companies to easily access quality ore deposits in inaccessible areas. According to the second interviewee, accessibility to water and electricity are among the major challenges […]
• The Relationship Between the Kinetic Energy of Motion and the Force The ultimate goal of the laboratory work is to determine the relationship between the kinetic energy of motion and the force.
• Sustainable Development and Water-Food-Energy Nexus in Sweden The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations states that the securities of food, energy, and water are interconnected and depend on each other.
• Energy Balance and Expenditure Energy density, which is typically expressed as the number of calories in a gram, is the quantity of energy or calories in a specific weight of food.
• The Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation Infrastructure: Main Threats Thus, the purpose of the work is to analyze the food/agricultural, energy, and transport sectors of critical infrastructure in terms of physical, cyber, or natural disaster threats.
• Mind-Body and Energy Approaches This connects to the film because the video explains how one’s health can be preserved by ensuring that the mental and emotional components of the mind-body system are treated to the appropriate conditions in the […]
• Equations for Predicting Resting Energy Expenditure They helped identify the best equations to use for predicting REE in patients of different weight and age categories when indirect calorimetry is unavailable.
• Interplay of Energy Systems During Physical Exercise At the start of the exercise in consideration, as the three energy systems begin to supply energy to cells, the ATP-PC system provides the most energy during the first 10 seconds of running, with the […]
• Types of Energy and Their Effects on Matter Finally, electrical energy is similar to thermal energy, but in this case, there is the movement of electric charges, which cause perturbation of the electromagnetic field.
• The Importance of Affordable and Clean Energy One of the best ways to accomplish this is to encourage the international community to develop renewable energy sources. Local sources of energy are crucial to developing countries, as occasionally, electricity can be an issue […]
• Energy Deficiency During Training Study by Beals et al. Additionally, the training of the SQT students in MWCW to determine the TDEE, compare it to the TDI and observe temperature patterns did not adhere to various ethical standards as the participant’s health was not […]
• Unnecessarily Waste of Energy During a Typical Day It is common to walk out of place and neglect the duty to turn off the lights. Similar to the previous issue, this action neglects the principle of effective and minimized use of energy in […]
• Barriers to Deploying Renewable Energy in Hotels The main benefit of renewable energy is environmental protection, improving the environmental and social performance of the industry, and reducing utility costs.
• A Virtual Resource to Reimagine Energy for People It is important to note that BP Plc is engaged in both mandatory and voluntary reporting as well as disclosure of information in order to achieve a higher degree of legitimacy.
• Green Energy Solutions & Sustainability at Al Qusais Landfill The figure below presents the overview of the company and the potential solutions to its problems. Furthermore, it is in the best interest of the government to mitigate the negative externalities and promote positive externalities.
• Issues Affecting the Energy Industry and Their Solutions The increasing demand for sustainable energy is one of the issues affecting the sector. Price volatility is one of the most significant concerns in the energy industry.
• Impact of Energy on Ecosystems The major benefit of the generation of renewable energy is the minimization of water and air pollution as it does not presuppose carbon dioxide emission and soil erosion. For instance, the use of wind energy […]
• Renewable Energy: An International Profile To illustrate the severity of some of the outlined consequences and challenges presented to the national environment, the following graph is presented, illustrating the growth rate of the US fracking industry.
• Energy and Sustainability Issue in the Ignabi Community Thus, understanding different methods of generating renewable energy is the key to ensuring that the world achieves a low-carbon level in the future.
• The Speech on the Use of Alternative Energy Sources for Different Audiences The upbringing of children determines the future of a society in which their generation will make decisions, and for this reason, it is necessary to inform them of global issues.
• Eden Project Implements a Sustainable Energy Source The biomes of the attraction, along with some other buildings, are going to be heated by the use of geothermal energy.
• Cybersecurity in the Energy Sector The stable supply of energy is the key to the normal functioning of American society, as it fuels all essential industries that ensure the vitality of the nation.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Georgia The history of the program dates back to the 1980s when the Low Income Energy Assistance Program was created to mitigate rising energy prices.
• “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”: Developing Renewable Energy The focus of this bill on the technological aspect of environmental protection is seen in the allocation of funds on loan guarantees, grants for researchers, and the manufacturing of advanced systems.
• Energy and Air Emission Effects of Water Supply Contemporary systems meant to heat water/air explore both the heat pumps and the solar plates that are combined to form a unit with the aim of optimizing on the energy efficiency as well as solar […]
• Metropolitan Edison Company vs. People Against Nuclear Energy In addition, the commission published a hearing notice which entailed an invitation to parties that were interested to submit their briefs explaining the impacts of the accident to the psychological harm or any other indirect […]
• Efficient Solar Refrigeration: A Technology Platform for Clean Energy and Water Refrigeration cycle capable to be driven by low grade energy, substituting gas-phase ejector used in conventional mechanical compressor.
• Non-Renewable Energy and Gross Domestic Product of China The use of non-renewable energy in China has the negative impact on the GDP, as indicated by the negative values of DOLS and CCR coefficients. The generation of renewable energy has a negligible negative impact […]
• Modern Technologies: Wireless Signals Into Energy I love this article because it is beneficial and informative; it tells about the technology that in the near future may enter into daily use by people around the world.
• Energy and Macronutrient Analysis However, in case of considerable sports activities, it is essential to adhere to the advised number of calories in order to maintain the current weight and not to lose muscle mass.
• Energy Efficient Lighting Design in a Corporate Space It is possible to increase energy efficiency by installing LED lights, implementing smart lighting control systems, and reducing the overall levels of light in the office by about 40-50%.
• “Energy Sector Emissions Make for 74% of UAE Total” by Zaatari The article by Zaatari discusses energy sector emissions, which should be regarded as a market failure. According to the text, “energy sector emissions make for 74% of UAE total”.
• Renewable and Sustainable Energy in NYC To provide a deepened assessment of sustainable and renewable energy usage in urban settings with New York City as a principal example.
• Making Solar Energy Affordable Solar energy is a type of energy that is obtained through tapping the sun’s rays radiant and converting it into other energy forms such as heat and electricity.
• Alternative Energy: Types and Benefits Researchers believe that the way that we are using our natural resources soon we would wind up depleting them and also would damage the earth.
• The Realization of the UAE Energy Plan 2050 The UAE energy plan and the green economy are among the key emerging trends influencing the transition and can affect how the future unfolds in the energy sector and the people of the UAE at […]
• Nuclear Energy: High-Entropy Alloy One of the tools for reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions is the development of nuclear energy, which is characterized by a high degree of environmental efficiency and the absence of a significant impact […]
• Energy Sector and Effects of Global Warming In an interview that was conducted with some of the experts in this field, one of the respondents stated that “the government has the financial capacity to support the growth and development of renewable energy […]
• Excel Energy Company’s Business Ethics In regard to the company, Excel Energy has been selling power to Excel Power Company and then buying the same units of power back.
• Government Subsidies for Solar Energy This approach has enabled solar companies and developers to penetrate the energy market despite the high costs involved in developing solar power.
• CFO Report: Chesapeake Energy Corporation The company’s Board of Directors has failed in corporate governance leading to questionable acts of the CEO and undisclosed financial transactions.
• Building Energy Assessment and Rating Tools Houses are rated prior to building them or after building them and the rating depends on the dwelling’s plan; the erection of its roof, walls, windows and floor; and the direction of its windows relative […]
• House Energy Audit: Water and Energy Consumption Review for the House 265 kWh/kL water supply The actual daily consumption in a period of 8 days of the above-mentioned utilities are calculated and recorded in the following table 2.
• Energy Rating for Residential Buildings This report will look at the various tools used in the measurement of building energy performance and the shortcomings in the tools of measurement.
• Energy Intake and Expenditure Analysis Determination of relationship between energy intake and energy expenditure is therefore important aspect towards determination of maximal energy expenditure, optimization of fat expenditure as secondary source of energy after carbohydrates and capacity to achieve energy […]
• Measurement of Energy Expenditure in Humans Energy expenditure as a whole is comprised of Basal Metabolic Rate, energy above BMR that is needed to process food, and physical activity thermogenesis which is the energy used during physical activities.
• Artificial Leaf as Cheap and Reliable Source of Alternative Energy When it is receives solar energy, the artificial leaf absorbs the energy and stores it in the bonds of the diatomic Hydrogen molecules liberated when water molecules are split by the silicon cells.
• Energy and Efficiency Knowledge and Capabilities in Saudi Arabia The main incentives in the frames of the NEEP in Saudi Arabia include regular energy auditing in the industrial and commercial sectors, developing policies for energy-consuming regulation in residential buildings and improving the exchange of […]
• Electrical Engineering Building Uses Wind Energy The purpose of this fact-finding mission was to determine an appropriate type and rating of the wind turbine based on three factors: the average wind data at UNSW; the peak power demand for the EE […]
• Technology Upgrade: The “A” Energy Company The following is an examination of the “A” Energy Company and delves into a SWOT assessment of the current system and the potential alternatives that can be implemented to replace it.
• Superior Energy Services: Assessing Dividend Policy The current dividend policy adopted by the company can be identified as the irregular dividend policy, as the organization leader is clearly geared towards returning the cash to the key stakeholders.
• GE Taps into Coolest Energy Storage Technology around The reaction occurs the other way round during the discharge process where the sodium ions shift to the cathode reservoir through the separating plate. In addition, the energy saving system is designed to enable monitoring, […]
• The Sun’s Light and Heat: Solar Energy Issue The figure below provides an overview of the major parts of the solar system, which include the solar core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, the photosphere, the chromosphere, and the corona among others.
• Boosting Gas Turbine: Energy Analysis in the Thermal Power Plant The first law of thermodynamics is the principle that guides energy analysis and the continuity equation over the system and its elements make the energy analysis a dominant method.
• Solar Energy: Review and Analysis Available literature shows that most commercial CSP plants in Spain and the United States using synthetic oil as the transfer fluid and molten salt as the thermal energy storage technology are able to achieve a […]
• Financing Rural Energy Projects in China: Lessons for Nigeria China has sustained many electricity projects using different project strategies. China has sustained many electricity projects using different project strategies.
• Energy and Nanotechnologies: Australia’s Future Given the concerns about the sustainability and the security of the energy supply, the fast pace of economic development, the connection between global warming and fossil fuels, the author seeks to investigate alternative energy efficient […]
• Energy Trust: Technology and Innovation Similarly, the Energy Trust demonstrates commercial and pre-commercial renewable energy technologies and builds market for renewable energy. Besides, renewable energy is cost effective than other sources of energy in the long run.
• Mining Investment in Mongolia’s Energy Sector To ensure that the energy initiative in the country gets public support, the government has also recognized that it is essential to meet the needs of all the stakeholders of the resource. Mongolia Energy Corporation […]
• Solar and Wind Energy in the Empty Quarter Desert However, the main bulk of the report focuses on the proposal to build a stand alone renewable energy source, a combination of a solar power wind turbine system that will provide a stable energy source […]
• Wind Energy for the Citizens of Shikalabuna, Sri Lanka The citizens of Shikalabuna are shot of the possibility to implement the required wind turbines and get a chance to pay less using the natural source available.
• The Impact of Energy on Logistics Systems In the long term, it has been estimated that there will be continual increases in energy prices and this will directly correlate to increased energy costs within the supply chain.
• Effect of Title XI of the Energy and Security Act of 2007 on Transportation In this paper, we will try to anticipate the impact of Title XI of The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 on the transportation industry.
• Energy, Oil and Gas Industry in the United Kingdom Examples of international bonds are Eurocurrencies and Eurobonds which are mostly for the European market.[3] The United Kingdom is one of the most energy-rich countries in the European country, enjoying a wealth of energy resources […]
• Coal Energy and Reserves in New Zealand The main use of coal in New Zealand is in the production of electric energy. Timber production in the lumbering industry has also used coal as the chief source of energy.
• Krakow Energy Efficiency Project (Poland) This paper describes the Krakow Energy Efficiency Project whose project proponent were the World Bank and the Government of Poland. The first parameter was the satisfaction of the end-user consumer with regard to the standards […]
• Investment Project: Energy and Petrochemical Industry: SABIC and Petro Rabigh Companies The Saudi petrochemical industry is the result of the venture to add value to natural gas and oil in the 1070s.
• Organic Macromolecules and Energy Systems It is stored in the substances of the cells like carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and is released through the interaction with oxygen.
• The Energy Crisis and Its Biological and Environmental Impact While the process of formation of fossil fuels is long and the process of their consumption quick, the use of these fuels presents hazards to the environment.
• Application of Catalyst and Energy Production This work entails developing a catalyst coupled with the construction of a good reformer in the field of catalysis. The catalyst is released at the end of the reaction and may be used again.
• Fuel Cell as an Alternative Energy Source For the fuel cell to operate continuously the reactants must flow into the cell, and the products out of the cell and the electrolyte must remain within the cell.
• Renewable Energy and Transport Fuel Use Patterns The base data is as follows: Table 1 The first segment of this analysis tests for differences between consumption of natural gas and ethanol.
• Provide Energy From Fusion Analysis Energy conversion, for instance, is a foundational activity that is very critical in mechanical engineering now and even in the past.”At first it was the steam engines, then a graduation to internal combustion systems of […]
• Energy Resource Projects in Ohio The company in charge of construction and development is Innergex Renewable Energy. Nevertheless, the support from the state and various ecological funds is bound to compensate for any issues, thus making Hillcrest Solar facility a […]
• Renewable Energy Technologies As for the construction decision and the way of harnessing the wave power, a variety of solutions has been proposed. Cheap and reliable desalinization technology such as one described in the Economist article could be […]
• The Rise of Alberta’s Unapologetic Petro-Patriots One of the critical things to remember is that energy production is one of the important industries that facilitate the development of human society.
• Solar Energy Selling Framework The list of actions to complete the required activity goes in the following sequence: planning actions, sales pitch itself, and reflection. The actions, aimed at doing are the four stages of a sales pitch, that […]
• Energy Relations Between the European Union and Russia: Economic and Political Perspectives In the last part of this study, a conclusion about the motivation that underlies the actions of Russia and the EU, and the interconnection of the political and economic reasons for such activities will be […]
• Lunar Energy: Formic Acid Case Lunar Energy would like to make an offer to the hospital regarding the provision of energy in the form of formic acid.
• Future Innovation in the Energy Industry The technological revolution of the 21st century will continue to shape the way people live now and in the future. Specifically, in the field of agriculture, technological innovation is likely to introduce precision in agriculture […]
• Energy Problems in Modern India For any country in the world, energy is one of the most critical sectors of the economy. The energy complex is one of the most critical sectors of the economy, particularly those that are of […]
• Ecosystem: Consumer Energy Use The basic factor of the river ecosystem is the water flow, which influences the entire system. The other factor is the temperature which affects and influences the flow of a river as well as its […]
• Resolute Energy Corporation: Project Budget Development D 350 for meals to the team. The project has presented a budget line of U.S.
• Resolute Energy Corporation: Project Plan Template The Resolute Energy Corporation is one of the stakeholders in the energy sector in the United States of America and is listed in the Russell 2000 index.
• ExtraSolar Planet Life: The Sun Energy In recent years, many scientists agreed that the presence of liquid water on a planet is the perfect condition for developing life.
• Renewable Energy Ethical Question Despite the fact that the power of wind, sun, and water can be transformed into energy the great majority of people argue the importance of the renewable energy system implementation proving that the disadvantages should […]
• Valero Energy: Marketer and Producer of Fuels The corporation is a significant figure in the international oil and power market. A limited partnership of Valero Energy Corporation is to buy terminals of refined petroleum in Louisiana and Houston.
• Superior Energy Services: Staffing System & Organizational Strategy Since Superior Energy Services is a leader in the provision of oil drilling services and equipment, it qualifies to be a prospector firm. Using this system of staffing and improved prospector orientation, the firm is […]

🎓 EnergyWriting Prompts

• Virtual Water and Water-Energy-Food Nexus
• Sustainable Energy: Business Solutions
• Renewable Energy Resources in Qatar
• Reducing Energy Consumption in Schools
• Environmental Protection With Energy Saving Tools
• The Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Effect
• Water and Energy Requirements of Curcubita Maxima
• European Union and Its Energy Situations
• Energy, Water and Capital as Factors Influencing Business
• Solar Energy Project: Stakeholder and Governance Analysis
• Energy Crisis in the Next 10-12 Years Is Inevitable
• Reliant Energy Services Inc.’s Need for Database
• Conservation of Energy Technology
• Energy Market Segmentation Approaches
• Alternative Energy and Green Improvements
• Energy Conservation: Problems, Methods
• An Energetic but Practical Mini Cooper Car
• Energy in New York City Analysis
• China and Its Energy Needs and Strategies
• Tidal Energy Technology Review
• European Energy Crisis and the Hike in Oil Prices
• Canadian Renewable Energy Industry
• Solar Energy: Commercial and Industrial Power Source
• Conceptual Chemistry. Wind Turbine vs. Coal Energy
• Activation Energy Barrier Definition
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
• Energy Wasting and Consumption Optimization
• China: Impact of Energy Production
• ‘An Energy Revolution for the Greenhouse Century’ by Martin Hoffert
• Advanced Ecological Economics: Energy Options for the Global Economy
• British Energy: Corporate Restructuring and Governance
• Solar Energy and Its Impact on Society
• Nuclear Energy: Impact of Science & Technology on Society
• Energy-Wasting: Modelling Exercise
• Nuclear Energy and The Danger of Environment
• Water, Energy and Food Sustainability in Middle East
• The Concept of Gartner’s Hype Cycle in the Energy Business
• The UAE’s Sustainable Energy Projects
• Cyber Security in the Energy Sector
• CPU–RAM-Based Energy-Efficient Resource Allocation in Clouds
• Price Influence on Energy Drink Consumption Behavior
• 5 Hour Energy Drink: Observational Field Research
• Energy and Utility Firms and Their Final Consumers
• Bismuth Vanadate Photocatalyst for Solar Energy
• Thermodynamics History: Heat, Work, and Energy
• Renewable Energy and Politics Relationships
• Energy, Its Usage and the Environment
• Peak Pricing Applied to Energy Sector
• Energy Consumption and Cost Structuring
• Achieving Full Potential in the Energy Market
• The Canadian Electric Energy Industry
• Energy and Water Projects in the Middle East and North Africa
• Dangerous and Natural Energy: Earthquakes
• Ecosystem and Its Energy Sources
• Solar Energy Power Plant & Utility Supply Contract
• Powerbill Restaurant’s Energy Usage and Controls
• Smart Grid Energy Technology and Its Future
• AMP Energy Drink Introduction in India
• Biomass Energy, Its Advantages and Disadvantages
• Energy Future in Casper, Wyoming
• Kinetic Energy Harvester Gait in Health Technology
• Innovative Solutions: Improving Energy Plan
• Artificial Intelligence System for Smart Energy Consumption
• China Shenhua Energy Company: Pollution Reducing
• The EU-Russia Energy Relations
• Horizon Company’s Energy and Waste Management
• Energy Sector in 2050: Potential Scenario
• Russian Energy and Oil Industry: Sustainability Concept
• Business Model Challenges in Energy Industry
• Global Energy Consumption Trends for 2010-2040
• Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE
• Primitive Energy Company’s Capital Budgeting
• UAE Foreign Policy and Association of Energy Sources
• Global Warming and Alternative Energy Awareness
• The UAE Energy Sources, Foreign Policy and Security
• Student Behaviors and Energy Consumption
• Halliburton Company: Energy Issues
• Solar Energy Industry in the UAE
• Sustainable Energy: Recycling of Cars in Germany
• Eco-Built Homes Company: Montana Energy Project
• Energy Consumption and Its Indices
• Car Recycling: Direct and Indirect Energy Use
• Regulatory Controls in the Energy Market Supply Chain
• Energy Poverty Elimination in Developing Countries
• Amount of Energy Used by the Country
• European Energy Market Liberalization
• Saudi Power & Energy Companies’ Knowledge Management
• Southeast Asia: Energy Security and Economic Growth
• Environment and Human Needs of Goods and Energy
• Hedging in the Energy Sector
• Nuclear Energy: Safe, Economical, Reliable
• Energy in Physics and Natural Sciences
• The Switch to Cleaner Forms of Energy
• Static Hydraulic Energy Project Requirements
• Shell’s Gamechanger Model in the Energy Sector
• Energy Consumption and Minimization Methods
• The Impacts of Energy Crisis on Businesses in Egypt
• Wind Energy Feasibility in Russia
• Motkamills Organization’s Energy Management
• Water-Energy Nexus Explained
• The Clean Energy Business Council Evaluation
• Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation: Business Principles
• Nuclear Power as a Primary Energy Source
• Energy Consumption in Utah
• Energy Infrastructure and Competition in Europe
• Abu Dhabi National Energy Company’s Supply & Demand
• Energy Problems in the Agriculture Sector
• Abu Dhabi National Energy Company’s Budgetary Process
• Energy Drink Product Marketing
• Canada-China Trade: Petroleum, Gas, Energy
• SMF Energy Corporation Officers’ Financial Fraud
• Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. at Canada’s Market
• Atlas Automation’s Energy Software’s Marketing
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: Mission
• Daylight Use for Energy Production
• The Brazilian Energy Industry Analysis
• UK Energy Industry Analysis
• Solar Energy: Definition and Ways of Usage
• Environmental Studies: Energy Wastefulness in the UAE
• Energy Production Importance for Eurasia Security
• Nuclear Energy and Its Risks
• What Kind of Energy Can Be Produced from Corn in Farms
• Collective Passenger Transport Role in Energy Conservation
• Valero Energy Company: International Trade and Finance
• Environmental Issues of Energy Innovations
• Energy Development and Global Warming
• Solar Energy Panels in UAE
• Ethanol as an Alternative Source of Energy
• Alternative Sources of Energy and Their Use
• Geothermal Energy and Its Application in the Middle East
• Energy Resource Plan – Physics
• Overprotected Children and Low Energy Potential
• Saving Energy Systems: Water Heater Technology
• Investment in Renewable Energy Sources
• BP Energy Company’s Business Ethics and Strategy
• Emerging Energy Development’ Impacts on Wildlife
• Sustainable Energy Future: Opportunities and Challenges
• Geothermal Energy in Eden Project
• Energy Problem Evaluation and Solution
• Environmental Issues for Managers: UK’s Current Strategy on Renewable Energy & Technologies
• Alternative Energy Sources for Saving Planet
• Solar & Wind Sources: Hybrid Energy System
• Fossil Fuel, Nuclear Energy, and Alternative Power Sources
• Energy and Society Carbon Footprint
• The Cost Efficiency of Renewable Energy
• Design of Behavior Change Program for Promoting Energy Saving Quest at Mr. Faud’s Household
• Millennium Development Goals – Energy and Poverty Solutions
• Sociological Indicators of Energy Poverty
• Energy and Poverty Solutions – Non-Traditional Cookstoves
• Energy and Poverty Solutions – World Bank
• Analysis of Japan’s Energy Policy
• Impact of PPP Projects in Energy and Water Sectors in the MENA Region
• The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union’s Strike
• Policy Position on Energy Development
• Scottish and Southern Energy Evaluation
• Legal and Political Factors of Renewable Energy Development
• Environment and Renewable Energy
• Technological Factors of Renewable Energy Development
• Economic Factors of Renewable Energy Development
• Producing and Transmitting Renewable Energy
• Green Energy Brand Strategy: Chinese E-Car Consumer Behaviour
• Petroleum Segment of the Energy Infrastructure
• Green Energy Brand Strategy
• Increasing Productivity in Superior Energy Services
• Labor Market – Superior Energy Services Company
• Superior Energy’s Targeted Work Class
• How to Achieve Energy Security in the US?
• Recovering Energy from Waste
• Renewable Energy Policies in Thailand
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
• Energy Generation Industry in India
• Possible Use of Alternative Energy Sources
• HRM Practices at Superior Energy Services
• Solar Energy Houses’ Benefits
• Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s Employee Training Program
• Is Renewable Energy a Viable Option?
• Energy Efficiency in the Saudi Transport Sector
• Energy Demand and Supply Modeling
• DONG Energy A/S Teaching Essentials
• History of DONG Energy A/S
• Logistics of Vestas Energy Wind Turbines: Europe to USA
• Energy Storage Technologies
• Economics of Renewable Energy
• Liquefied Natural Gas Role in Catering the Energy Demands
• Renewable Energy: Wind Generating Plant for the Local Community
• China’s Energy and Environmental Implications
• Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation Managerial Accounting
• Harmful Health Effects of Nuclear Energy
• Energy Consumption: The State of Maryland as the Residential Region
• Usage of Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia
• Value of Sustainable Energy
• The Advantages and Limitations of Wave Energy
• Energy Problem in Minh Mekong Delta, Vietnam
• Filling the Global Energy Research Gap
• GasLand (2010): American Appetite for Energy
• Technology Industrial and Energy Sectors
• Portable Energy Inc: Internet Strategy
• A Robust Strategy for Sustainable Energy
• The Dangers of Energy Drinks
• Energy Infrastructure and Security U.S.
• Sustainable Energy Source – Nuclear Energy
• The Role of Behavioural Economics in Energy and Climate Policy
• Chesapeake Energy Corporate Politics and Culture
• Wind-Based Energy Market
• Biomass Energy – A Reliable Energy Source
• Sustainable Initiatives in Energy Industry
• Carbon Footprint and Renewable Energy
• Chromotherapy and Energy Distribution in Natural Field
• Company Analysis: AGL Energy’s Risk Management with Reference to ISO 31000
• Sempra Energy Strategic Management
• Energy Entrepreneurship: Southern company
• Reducing Energy Emission: Role of University and Government
• A Cost Benefit Analysis of the Environmental and Economic Effects of Nuclear Energy in the United States
• Reducing the Energy Costs in Hotels: An Attempt to Take Care of the Environment
• Nuclear Energy Fusion and Harnessing
• Reducing Standby Energy Wastage in Canada
• The Effects of Energy Drinks and Alcohol on Neuropsychological Functioning
• Solar Energy in the UAE
• We Should Recover Energy from Waste Rather Than Dispose of To Landfill
• Science and the Use of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
• Solar Energy Business Model Based in Melbourne
• Fossil Energy and Economy
• Future of the World: Fuel Cell Energy and Its Impact
• Nuclear Energy Usage and Recycling
• Abu Dhabi Wind Energy
• The Effect of Nuclear Energy on the Environment
• Wind Energy for Environmental Sustainability
• Australian Energy Company Limited
• Kuwait’s Energy Consumption
• The Reality of the Prospects within Wave Energy
• Suzlon Energy, Inc. Financial Analysis
• Is it Time to Put Geothermal Energy Development on the Fast Track?
• The Fossil Oil Energy Effects on the Environment
• South Wales Region: Energy and Economy
• The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
• Reducing Energy Usage
• Renewable Energy Sources
• Nuclear Energy Benefits and Demerits
• Non-Conventional Energy Resources
• Tecck Industries: Business Climate and Ethics
• Concepts of Dangerous and Natural Energy
• The US energy diplomacy
• Balanced Treatment of the Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy
• Energy Resource Plan: Towards Sustainable Conservation of Energy
• Geothermal Energy: What Is It and How Does It Work?
• Making Solar Energy More Affordable
• Environmental Effects of the Production of Electricity by Various Energy Sources: Natural Gas vs. Its Alternatives
• Indoor Air Quality in Sustainable, Energy Efficient Buildings
• The Environmental Impact of Nuclear Energy
• Clean Sources of Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Renewable Energy Sources Summary
• Wind Energy, Its Advantages and Disadvantages
• Renewable Energy Co: Engineering Economics and TOP Perspectives of Renewable Energy in Canada
• Sustainable Global Energy Options
• Sources of Energy: Nuclear Power and Hydroelectric Power
• Corporate Governance Strategy for Emirates Energy Nuclear Corporation
• Ethanol as an Alternative Energy Source
• Stakeholder Analysis: The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)
• Cybersecurity in the Energy Industry
• Energy efficient team project
• Solving the Climate Change Crisis Through Development of Renewable Energy
• Clean Energy Technologies
• New Technology for Energy Saving and Better Use of Energy in Air Conditioning Systems
• Wind Energy: The Use of Wind Turbines
• Global Race for Energy
• Natural Resources and Energy
• Natural Apex- Defining a National Energy Policy for the Next Decade
• Alternative Sources of Energy: Solar, Wind, and Hydropower
• Mitigation Plan for Energy Resources
• Energy Use and Conservation
• Different Sources of Energy
• Role of Alternative Energy Resources in Reshaping Global Transportation Infrastructure
• Water Pollution and Wind Energy
• Evolution of Solar Energy in US
• Saving Energy Dollars While Providing an Optimal Learning Environment
• Are Alternative Energy Sources an Option?
• Nuclear Energy in Australia
• The Fundamentals of Energy Efficiency
• Impact of Nuclear Energy in France
• Suppression of Alternative Energy
• Energy Needs in the United States of America
• Problems in Energy Conservation
• New Techniques for Harnessing Solar Energy
• Energy and Environmental Policies
• Energy & Fossil Fuels
• Is Solar Energy Good for the State of New Jersey?
• Sustainability of Energy Sources: Carbon, Petroleum, Coal & Gas
• Nuclear Energy Benefits
• Why Clean Energy Is Important?
• Kleen Energy Explosion in Middleton, Connecticut
• The Use of Solar Energy Should be Adopted in All States in the U.S.
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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IvyPanda . 2024. "461 Energy Essay Topics to Write about & Examples." February 27, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/energy-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "461 Energy Essay Topics to Write about & Examples." February 27, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/energy-essay-topics/.

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IvyPanda . "461 Energy Essay Topics to Write about & Examples." February 27, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/energy-essay-topics/.

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2.3 Flows of Energy and Matter

Energy, initially provided by the sun, and matter are transferred and transformed through ecosystems. The amount of matter or energy assimilated by organisms is referred to as productivity.

The carbon and nitrogen cycles are examples of nutrient flow through an ecosystem.

Chapter Workbook

• Construct a quantitative model (using spreadsheet software) of the transfer of energy or matter through a given system.
• Measure the productivity in an aquatic ecosystem using the bottle method.

Full PSOW here .

“Evaluate the diagram as a model for the carbon cycle.” [9 marks]

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The essay should marked using the Paper 2, Section B essay markbands.

PDF Version

Google Docs 2.3 essay

Open the link and make a copy to your own drive. The doc can easily be shared as an “Assignment” on Google Classroom.

A markbands rubric designed for Google Classroom is available here .

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Essays on Energy Flow

7 samples on this topic

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Astronomy Course Work Example

Free report on process design distillation columns.

- What are the major hazards? In the case, stream 1 is seen to have a pressure of 220Pa. This is the same as 2atm. In this case, then, the vessel that has been utilized should have high pressure which is the same as that of an insulator (Ludwig). De-C5 and C6+ stream should have a temperature change to 80.65 C. Fuel gas stream and C2/C3 temperature is given by -55.05℃. Temperature in i-C4 stream is given by -33.80℃.

Therefore, the columns are wrapped by an insulator to ensure safety

Free Research Paper On Energy Movement In An Ecosystem

Example of acupuncture and chronic constipation research paper, essay on ecosystem.

Energy Flow

Antartic Ecosystem Essay Sample

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

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