I/GCSE Biology - Energy in Biomass

In this blog post, we will talk about the energy in biomass in I/GCSE Biology. Let's get started! 🐒

Biomass ➡️ biological material; in particular, the total mass of living material at a specified level in a food chain or in a specified area

• Biomass increases when food eaten used to make cells + tissues
• Mass of food ➡️ biomass in body
• Energy in biomass ➡️ chemical energy
• Chemical energy ➡️ energy stored in the chemical bonds of compounds, such as those in the cells of living organisms

After knowing what biomass and energy are, you should know how to make plant biomass in I/GCSE Biology!

• Energy for making new plant biomass comes from sun ☀️

During photosynthesis ➡️

Carbon dioxide + water = light energy -> glucose + oxygen

6CO₂ + 6H₂O = light energy -> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

• Leaves adapted to capture as much light as possible
• Only little light energy is transferred into chemical energy in the biomass of the plant
• Some carbohydrates made during photosynthesis converted into other chemicals e.g. proteins + fats
• Carbohydrates broken down during respiration ➡️ releases energy
  1. Some energy escapes – heats surroundings

Then, let me move on talking the energy transfer in I/GCSE Biology

Remember to know how energy transfer from plant to animal in I/GCSE Biology!

• Animals eat – some chemicals in food absorbed by body, some egested as faeces
• Absorbed food chemicals – built up into fats, carbohydrates, proteins + other chemicals ➡️ make cells
• Energy ➡️ breaking down carbohydrates during respiration
• Respiration – supplies all living processes + movement
• Plants respiration – some energy escapes ➡️ heats surroundings
• Animal waste products contain chemical excretes into environment (urine)

• Less biomass at each level of food chain (energy lost to environment – see above)
• Pyramid of biomass – a diagram that shows the mass of living organisms at each stage in a food chain

References:

1. "Transfer of Biomass", https://v1.nitrocdn.com/kDXDIJNDOaszRbpagqNqUtquAQQkiLpO/assets/static/optimized/rev-ddee88e/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Ways-in-which-biomass-is-lost.png
2. "Pin on Natural History Club", https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/a2/a0/6ba2a0abe10311c8e1e77224fd4dee82.jpg
3. "Why is the maximum size of an energy pyramid 5 levels?", https://useruploads.socratic.org/1FlaOz7EQOeqNS6u3F4N_slide_37.jpg
4. "Producer", https://cdn.britannica.com/92/180492-050-9389FB50/energy-pyramid-level-organisms-producers-flow-consumers.jpg
5. "ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS", https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3a3RjOpgVeI/XEaoZltOA6I/AAAAAAAAAyg/g9RIFIxowMUfE_b6C230HxeeJLQA370MgCLcBGAs/s1600/2.jpg

And we're done with this topic! Well Done!

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Drafted by Alyssa (Biology)