Module 5 (Energy) Revision Notes
What is the source of energy for an ecosystem? sunlight
What is the role of producers, consumers, decomposers in an ecosystem?
producers = plants, perform photosynthesis, use light energy to make biological
molecules
consumers = animals, cannot make their own biological molecules, need to eat plants
(primary consumers) or other animals
(secondary/tertiary consumers) to obtain biological
molecules
decomposers = bacteria and fungi, perform saprobiotic decomposition,
release enzyme onto dead plants/dead animals/animal
waste (organic matter) breaking them down to obtain
biological molecules
Why do producers (plants) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration, store as starch, make cellulose
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make triglyceride as energy store, make phospholipid for
membranes
Why do consumers (animals) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration, store as glycogen
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make triglyceride as energy store and insulation/protection,
make phospholipid for membranes
Why do decomposers (bacteria/fungi) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make phospholipid for membranes
How do organisms carry energy?
Main Source = Glucose
Stored as Starch in plants and Glycogen in animals
Alternative Source = Lipids/Fats/Triglycerides and Proteins
How does energy move through an ecosystem? by the food chain, begin with producer and then
moves onto primary consumer, then secondary consumer, then tertiary consumer – with
decomposers occurring at each stage (trophic level)
Why is all the light energy not utilised by plants in photosynthesis? only 2% is used in
photosynthesis – of the rest, a certain part misses the chloroplast, the other parts would be reflected
or the wrong wavelength
What is the source of energy for an ecosystem? sunlight
What is the role of producers, consumers, decomposers in an ecosystem?
producers = plants, perform photosynthesis, use light energy to make biological
molecules
consumers = animals, cannot make their own biological molecules, need to eat plants
(primary consumers) or other animals
(secondary/tertiary consumers) to obtain biological
molecules
decomposers = bacteria and fungi, perform saprobiotic decomposition,
release enzyme onto dead plants/dead animals/animal
waste (organic matter) breaking them down to obtain
biological molecules
Why do producers (plants) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration, store as starch, make cellulose
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make triglyceride as energy store, make phospholipid for
membranes
Why do consumers (animals) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration, store as glycogen
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make triglyceride as energy store and insulation/protection,
make phospholipid for membranes
Why do decomposers (bacteria/fungi) need biological molecules?
Glucose = respiration
Amino Acids = make proteins e.g. enzymes
Fatty Acid & Glycerol = make phospholipid for membranes
How do organisms carry energy?
Main Source = Glucose
Stored as Starch in plants and Glycogen in animals
Alternative Source = Lipids/Fats/Triglycerides and Proteins
How does energy move through an ecosystem? by the food chain, begin with producer and then
moves onto primary consumer, then secondary consumer, then tertiary consumer – with
decomposers occurring at each stage (trophic level)
Why is all the light energy not utilised by plants in photosynthesis? only 2% is used in
photosynthesis – of the rest, a certain part misses the chloroplast, the other parts would be reflected
or the wrong wavelength
