BI110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Radiant Energy, Herbivore, Phototroph
Document Summary
Photoautotrophic producers use light energy, carbon, and water to produce organic molecules (and associated energy) through photosynthesis. Heterotrophic consumers: acquire organic molecules (or associated energy) from other organisms. Tertiary consumers: top predators: typically producers convert less than 1% of incoming radiant energy into stored chemical energy. 10% efficiency of transfer to primary consumers, efficiency goes down up the pyramid. An electron further away from the nucleus contains more energy. Two good fuels: gasoline and glucose: electrons in c-h bonds are equidistant from both nuclei, contain high energy and can be easily removed. Reduction-oxidation reactions transfer electrons from donor to their acceptor atoms. Electrons lose energy as they pass from donor to acceptor molecule. Usually protons accompany the electrons (reduction of nad"). Donor becomes oxidized as it releases electrons. Acceptor becomes reduced: oil rig (leo says ger), loss of electrons is oxidation, and gain of electrons is reduction. o. Continuously changes from an oxidized form to a reduced form.
