In this blog post, we will talk about the energy in biomass in I/GCSE Biology. Let's get started! 🐒
About biomass and energy
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
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After knowing what biomass and energy are, you should know how to make plant biomass in I/GCSE Biology!
Making plant biomass
- 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
- Some energy escapes – heats surroundings
Then, let me move on talking the energy transfer in I/GCSE Biology
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From plant biomass to animal biomass
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)
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Biomass in food chains
- 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
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References:
- "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
- "Pin on Natural History Club", https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/a2/a0/6ba2a0abe10311c8e1e77224fd4dee82.jpg
- "Why is the maximum size of an energy pyramid 5 levels?", https://useruploads.socratic.org/1FlaOz7EQOeqNS6u3F4N_slide_37.jpg
- "Producer", https://cdn.britannica.com/92/180492-050-9389FB50/energy-pyramid-level-organisms-producers-flow-consumers.jpg
- "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)