Formation of Peat Under normal conditions the tissues of dead organisms are completely broken down by decomposers known as saprotrophs and detritivores These decomposers require specific conditions...
Methanogenesis Methane (CH4) is a simple hydrocarbon It is present as a gas in the atmosphere, and underground, and is the main component of natural gas fossil fuel Methane can be produced by the n...
Respiration & Carbon Dioxide All living cells carry out some form of cellular respiration, from bacteria, to plants, to animals Many organisms carry out aerobic respiration Aerobic respiration ...
Carbon Fixation Carbon is present in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide gas Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere by plants to be used in photosynthesis Plants are autotrophs Autotrophs u...
Pyramids of Energy Pyramids of energy illustrate the amount of energy contained within the biomass of organisms at each trophic level The length of each box, or bar, represents the quantity of ener...
Chi-squared Test for Association Looking for associations between species The distribution of species in a habitat is rarely random; it usually depends on factors such as soil type, water availabil...
Identification of Trophic Level Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores, or saprotrophs A species can be classified as an autotroph, consumer, detritivore, or saprotroph on the b...
Wasted Energy - Heat The process of respiration in living organisms releases heat as a by-product This applies in producers, consumers, detritivores, and saprotrophs This heat energy is lost from e...
Initial Source of Energy The sun is the initial (first) source of energy for most food chains Light energy from the sun is converted by producers into chemical energy stored in the tissues of plant...
