Flow of Energy,Ecosystem,Transformation,Bioenergetics,Electromagnetic waves,Ionosphere,Ozonosphere,Visible light, Photosynthesis

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B. Flow of Energy

Flow of energy into ecosystem and its transformation in living organisms are called bioenergetics. Energy is required in maintaining organisation in living beings. Ultimate source of energy in our ecosystem is sun. Sun is continuously releasing energy by utilizing 4 million tones of hydrogen per second. Solar energy travels in space as electromagnetic waves and a fraction impinges on our planet.
Harmful rays-D-rays, γ-rays, cosmic rays are filtered out by ionosphere and ozonosphere. Of the remaining falling on earth 53% are reflected or absorbed. Only 47% reach the earth’s surface consisting of visible light, UV rays and infra-red or heat waves.

Most part of the energy that reaches the earth regulates the climates. Plants utilize only a small amount of available solar energy for photosynthesis which further gets incorporated into organic compounds and passed on into the food chainTen per cent law put forth by Lindeman (1942) states that while transferring organic food from one tropic level to the other only 10% of energy is stored up by organism, rest is lost during transfer.

Producers 20 kg

---->

Herbivores

2 kg

----->

Primary carnivores 0.2 kg

---->

Secondary carnivores 0.02 kg

Gross primary productivity. Rate of organic matter synthesized by producers per unit time and area.

Net primary productivity. Rate of organic matter built up by producers in their bodies per unit time and area.

Net productivity = Gross primary productivity – Loss due to respiration etc.

Community productivity. It is the rate of net synthesis or built up of organic matter by a community per unit time and area.

Secondary productivity. Rate of increase in energy containing organic matter or biomass by heterotrophs or consumers per unit time and urea.

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