1. What do you predict about the quantity of energy the producers take in compared to the quantity of energy that goes out?
We predict there will be more energy taken in by the plants than released by the plants. We came to this conclusion because photosynthesis is an endergonic process, which will be continuously done by the plants. It requires constant energy from a light source. 2. What do you predict about the quantity of energy the consumers take in compared to the quantity of energy that goes out? We predict there will be more energy taken in by the consumers than released into the environment. We reached this conclusion because energy, in the form of food, is required for cellular respiration, which will be the main cellular process that the consumers’ cells will perform. The ATP produced in cellular respiration will then be used by the consumer for a variety of processes, including movement. Most little of this energy will be released from the consumer in the form of heat. Very little energy will be stored in the organism. 3. What do you think are various ways that producers and consumers could lose energy? The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is transferred, energy is lost. This explains the roughly 90 percent loss of energy per trophic level as energy is transferred. This is because the energy is used for processes like cellular respiration and photosynthesis, which also increase entropy. Other vital processes will also use energy, such as active transport 4. How could you estimate the amount of energy lost through these various pathways? (You can hand draw this, or use Word, or Paint, take a picture and then upload an electronic copy) The total amount of energy released could be determined by calculating the change in the temperature of the water. We are using approximately 10 liter tanks. So, an increase of 1 degree Celsius in the tank would mean 10,000 gram-calories of energy were lost through heat. This is equivalent to 41,840 kilojoules
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