How does chemosynthesis differ from photosynthesis in terms of energy source and organisms involved?

Chemosynthesis uses chemical energy (e.g., hydrogen sulfide) and is performed by bacteria, while photosynthesis uses sunlight and is performed by plants and algae.

What happens to the majority of the sun's energy that reaches a plant?

It is reflected or passes through without being captured.

Ecology and Interdependence

9th Grade•75 minutes•Standard 8 - Develop and use models to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy between abiotic and biotic factors in ecosystems.

Learning Objective

I can model how energy and matter move between living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Key Concepts

The major source of energy on our planet is the sun, which plants convert into usable energy through photosynthesis.

Gross primary productivity is the overall amount of energy converted by producers, while net primary productivity is the energy remaining after the producers' respiration.

In an ecological pyramid, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, with the rest being lost as heat.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

View questions preview

1. What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth?

2. Explain the difference between gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP).

3. Write the simplified equation for photosynthesis.

...and 9 more questions

Educational Video

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Bozeman Science

Learning Objective

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

Educational Video

Create Your Own Lesson