ENVS 1126 Chapter : ENVS September 11
Document Summary
Primary production: production of organic matter from inorganic compounds using sunlight (photosynthesis) or oxidation reduction reaction (chemosynthesis) Secondary production: production of one kind of organic matter from some other kind of organic matter. Ecological efficiency: the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Most aquatic organisms are cold blooded and they invest less energy in supporting their body weight; ecological efficiency higher in aquatic organisms. The ecological efficiency in a food chain is 15%. A pollutant (x) is transferred from one trophic level to the next with an efficiency of 60% The magnification factor between trophic levels is a factor of 4 (60% divided by 15%) They are the only autotrophs organisms in most communities. Species well adapted to periodic fires: pines, grasses, redwoods.
