laws of thermodynamics in an ecosystem
DESCRIPTION
There are two laws of thermodynamics. These two laws actually regulate our ecosystem. Our ecosystem consist of living and non living objects which surrounded us. Green plants are the only producer of earth. They took the solar power, and with the help of water and carbon di oxide of air they form food by photosynthesis. That food is known as glucose. Other living objects of the earth can not produce their own food. They gets their food by consume green plants, plant products or other animals. So basically the solar energy recycled. This shows that energy can not be created nor destroyed and it is transformed from one form to another. This presentation all about that how laws of thermodynamics regulate our ecosystem.TRANSCRIPT
Role of Energy in an Ecosystem in relation to Thermodynamics
Laws of Thermodynamics in an EcosystemMridul Bora Animal Ecology & Wildlif BiologyGauhati University
1Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Laws of thermodynamics describes the energy flow in an Ecosystem. 1st law of thermodynamics- Energy can not be created or destroyed, only transformed from one step to another. 2nd law of thermodynamics- In the path of energy transformation some energy loss in the form of heat and the entropy increases.1st law of thermodynamics in Ecosystem
Energy From Sun to Plant
Chlorophyll of green plants traps the light energy from sun and produce food with the help of water, CO2 and minerals.Energy usersProducers Green plants use light energy (sunlight) to produce food (chemical energy).Primary consumers Feed on herbivores and get energy from plants (Carnivores).Secondary consumers Feed on primary consumers and get energy form them.Tertiary consumers- Feed on secondary consumers and get energy. Decomposers- Break down dead or decaying organism (decomposition) and get energy. Food chain or food web support the 1st law of thermodynamics
Energy RecyclingPlants or Producers1st tropic levelEnergySunThe energy houseEnergyConsumers2nd tropic levelDecomposers3rd tropic levelEnergyEnergySoil, Air, Waterwith matterHeat 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
In the path of energy transformation some energy loss in the form of heat and the entropy increases.
The Path Way of Energy Loss Not all food consumed by heterotrophs (consumers) is transformed into biomass.
At each tropic level about 90% of energy is loss to perform metabolic activities.
Entropy increases.What is Entropy?According to Great Physicist Peter Higgs, Entropy is the every types of error or unrestrained activities of a system.Different Forms of entropy among organisms
What happens to the energyin the end?Solar energy is used by plants for food production. That energy transformed from green plants to decomposers in different steps. In the energy transformation path, energy is lost into space in the form of heat. That is used in endothermic reaction(an animal that is dependent on the internal generation of heat).
Conclusion Sun is the ultimate energy source of ecosystem (excluding chemoautotrophs). Energy transformed from sun to decomposers. In each tropic level maximum energy is released as heat. Ecosystem obeys 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamics.