✨ Energy Flow & Bioaccumulation in Ecosystems: A Student's Guide ðŋ
✨ āļāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļĨāļ°āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļāđāļāļĢāļ°āļāļāļิāđāļ§āļĻ: āļู่āļĄืāļāļัāļāđāļĢีāļĒāļ ðŋ
Key Points: āļāļĢāļ°āđāļ็āļāļŠāļģāļัāļ ð
- Energy
in ecosystems primarily comes from the sun (āļāļ§āļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์).
āļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļāļĢāļ°āļāļāļิāđāļ§āļĻāļŠ่āļ§āļāđāļŦāļ่āļĄāļēāļāļēāļāļāļ§āļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์
- Producers
(āļู้āļāļĨิāļ) like plants (āļืāļ) convert solar
energy into chemical energy. āļู้āļāļĨิāļ āđāļ่āļ āļืāļ
āđāļāļĨี่āļĒāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļŠāļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์āđāļ็āļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļāļĄี
- Energy
flows unidirectionally (āļิāļĻāļāļēāļāđāļีāļĒāļ§) from producers to
consumers (āļู้āļāļĢิāđāļ āļ) and then to decomposers
(āļู้āļĒ่āļāļĒāļŠāļĨāļēāļĒ).
āļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļŦāļĨāđāļāđāļāļิāļĻāļāļēāļāđāļีāļĒāļ§āļāļēāļāļู้āļāļĨิāļāđāļāļĒัāļāļู้āļāļĢิāđāļ āļāđāļĨāļ°āđāļāļĒัāļāļู้āļĒ่āļāļĒāļŠāļĨāļēāļĒ
- Only
about 5-20% (āđāļāļĨี่āļĒāļāļĢāļ°āļĄāļēāļ 10%) of energy is
transferred from one trophic level (āļĢāļ°āļัāļāđāļ āļāļāļēāļāļēāļĢ) to the next. The
rest is lost, mostly as heat (āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļĢ้āļāļ). āļĄีāđāļีāļĒāļāļāļĢāļ°āļĄāļēāļ 5-20% (āđāļāļĨี่āļĒāļāļĢāļ°āļĄāļēāļ
10%) āļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļ่āļēāļั้āļāļี่āļูāļāļ่āļēāļĒāļāļāļāļāļēāļāļĢāļ°āļัāļāđāļ āļāļāļēāļāļēāļĢāļŦāļึ่āļāđāļāļĒัāļāļีāļāļĢāļ°āļัāļāļŦāļึ่āļ
āļŠ่āļ§āļāļี่āđāļŦāļĨืāļāļāļ°āļŠูāļāđāļŠีāļĒāđāļ āļŠ่āļ§āļāđāļŦāļ่āđāļāļĢูāļāļāļāļāļāļ§āļēāļĄāļĢ้āļāļ
- Bioaccumulation
(āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ) is the buildup of substances (e.g.,
toxins - āļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐ) in a single organism over time. āļืāļāļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļāļāļŠāļēāļĢ
(āđāļ่āļ āļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐ) āđāļāļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļāļŦāļึ่āļāđ āđāļĄื่āļāđāļ§āļĨāļēāļ่āļēāļāđāļ
- Biomagnification
(āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ) is the increase in
concentration of these substances in organisms at higher trophic levels.
āļืāļāļāļēāļĢāđāļิ่āļĄāļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļāļāļāļŠāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨ่āļēāļี้āđāļāļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļāđāļāļĢāļ°āļัāļāđāļ āļāļāļēāļāļēāļĢāļี่āļŠูāļāļึ้āļ
- Energy
decreases (āļĨāļāļĨāļ) up the food chain, while
harmful substances can increase (āđāļิ่āļĄāļึ้āļ) (biomagnify).
āļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļĨāļāļĨāļāļāļēāļĄāļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ
āđāļāļāļāļ°āļี่āļŠāļēāļĢāļัāļāļāļĢāļēāļĒāļŠāļēāļĄāļēāļĢāļāđāļิ่āļĄāļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļึ้āļāđāļ้ (āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ)
Vocabulary: āļāļģāļĻัāļāļ์āļ่āļēāļĢู้ ð
|
English Term |
Thai Translation |
Meaning |
|
Ecosystem |
āļĢāļ°āļāļāļิāđāļ§āļĻ (rà -bÃēp
nÃ-wÊt) |
A community
of living organisms interacting with their physical environment. |
|
Energy Flow |
āļāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļ
(gaan lÄi kÅng pÃĄ-lang-ngaan) |
The movement
of energy through an ecosystem from one trophic level to another. |
|
Trophic Level |
āļĢāļ°āļัāļāđāļ āļāļāļēāļāļēāļĢ
(rÃĄ-dà p pÃīh-chÃĄ-naa-gaan) |
The position
an organism occupies in a food chain. |
|
Primary Producer |
āļู้āļāļĨิāļāļāļāļĄāļ ูāļĄิ
(pÃīo pà -lÃŽt bpà -tÅm-mÃĄ-poom) |
Organisms
(like plants) that produce their own food from sunlight. āļืāļāļี่āļŠāļĢ้āļēāļāļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢāđāļāļāļāļēāļāđāļŠāļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์ |
|
Consumer |
āļู้āļāļĢิāđāļ āļ (pÃīo
bor-rÃ-pÃīhk) |
Organisms
that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms. āļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļāļี่āđāļ้āļĢัāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļāļēāļāļāļēāļĢāļิāļāļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļāļื่āļ |
|
Decomposer |
āļู้āļĒ่āļāļĒāļŠāļĨāļēāļĒ
(pÃīo yÃīi sà -lÄai) |
Organisms
(like bacteria and fungi) that break down dead organic matter. āļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļāļี่āļĒ่āļāļĒāļŠāļĨāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļิāļāļāļĢีāļĒ์ |
|
Photosynthesis |
āļāļēāļĢāļŠัāļāđāļāļĢāļēāļ°āļŦ์āļ้āļ§āļĒāđāļŠāļ
(gaan sÄng-kror dPÃŧay sÄeng) |
The process
by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of
chlorophyll. |
|
Unidirectional |
āļิāļĻāļāļēāļāđāļีāļĒāļ§
(tÃt taang dieow) |
Moving in
only one direction. |
|
10% Law |
āļāļ 10
āđāļāļāļĢ์āđāļ็āļāļ์
(gÃēt sÃŽp bper-sen) |
Principle
stating that only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic
level. |
|
Bioaccumulation |
āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ
(gaan sà -sÅm taang chee-wÃĄ-pÃĒap) |
The
accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, in an organism. |
|
Biomagnification |
āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ
(gaan kà -yÄai taang chee-wÃĄ-pÃĒap) |
The increase
in concentration of a substance at successively higher levels in a food
chain. |
|
Toxin |
āļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐ (sÄan
pÃt) |
A poisonous
substance. |
|
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) |
āļŠāļēāļĢāļĄāļĨāļิāļĐāļิāļāļāļĢีāļĒ์āļี่āļāļāļ้āļēāļāļĒāļēāļ§āļāļēāļ
(sÄan mon-lÃĄ-pÃt in-see tÊe dtÃēk kÃĄang yaao naan) |
Toxic
chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment around the
world. |
Note: Vocabulary and translations aim to support
understanding in a bilingual context. Definitions are simplified for Grade 9
level.
ð Content: āđāļื้āļāļŦāļēāļāļāđāļĢีāļĒāļ
ð
1. Energy Flow in Ecosystems (āļāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāđāļāļĢāļ°āļāļāļิāđāļ§āļĻ)
☀️➡️ðŋ➡️ð➡️ðĶ
Energy flow through an ecosystem describes the pathway and
transformations of energy as it moves from one trophic level to another (Mani
Kanth, 2018).
1.1 The Sun: The Ultimate Source! (āļāļ§āļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์:
āđāļŦāļĨ่āļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļŦāļĨัāļ!) ð
The primary source of energy for most ecosystems is the sun
(āļāļ§āļāļāļēāļิāļāļĒ์). Life
on Earth depends on it! (Wikipedia contributors, n.d.-b).
1.2 Primary Producers: The Energy Converters! (āļู้āļāļĨิāļ:
āļัāļāđāļāļĨāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļ!) ðąðū
- Primary
producers, such as plants (āļืāļ), algae (āļŠāļēāļŦāļĢ่āļēāļĒ),
and some bacteria, are the foundation of energy flow.
- They
capture radiant solar energy and convert it into chemical energy (glucose
- āļ้āļģāļāļēāļĨāļāļĨูāđāļāļŠ) through photosynthesis (āļāļēāļĢāļŠัāļāđāļāļĢāļēāļ°āļŦ์āļ้āļ§āļĒāđāļŠāļ).
This chemical energy is then stored in organic molecules within the
producers (NEXT IAS Team, 2024).
- Think
of them as little solar-powered sugar factories! ð☀️➡️ðŽ
1.3 Trophic Levels & Energy Transfer (āļĢāļ°āļัāļāđāļ āļāļāļēāļāļēāļĢāđāļĨāļ°āļāļēāļĢāļ่āļēāļĒāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļ)
ð➡️ðŠ
Energy is subsequently transferred to consumers (āļู้āļāļĢิāđāļ āļ) when
they eat organisms from a lower trophic level.
This transfer occurs through food chains (āļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ) and
food webs (āļŠāļēāļĒāđāļĒāļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ),
which represent the feeding relationships within the ecosystem (Singh, n.d.).
- Food
Chain (āļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ): A linear
sequence. Example: Grass (āļŦāļ้āļē) ➡️ Grasshopper
(āļั๊āļāđāļāļ) ➡️ Frog
(āļāļ) ➡️ Snake
(āļู) ➡️ Hawk
(āđāļŦāļĒี่āļĒāļ§).
- Food
Web (āļŠāļēāļĒāđāļĒāļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ): More complex and
realistic, showing interconnected food chains. It's like many food chains
having a big party together! ð
The flow of energy through these trophic levels is unidirectional
(āļิāļĻāļāļēāļāđāļีāļĒāļ§) –
it moves from producers to consumers and decomposers, but does not flow
back (NEXT IAS Team, 2024). Imagine it like a one-way street for energy! ➡️➡️➡️
1.4 The 10% Law: Why So Little Energy Moves Up? (āļāļ 10%:
āļāļģāđāļĄāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļึāļāļ่āļēāļĒāļāļāļāđāļ้āļ้āļāļĒāļัāļ?)
ð
The rate of energy transfer between trophic levels is
relatively low.
- On
average, only about 10% of the net energy from one trophic level is
converted into biomass at the next trophic level (TutorChase, n.d.). This
is often called the "10% law."
- The
actual transfer efficiency, or Trophic Level Transfer Efficiency (TLTE),
can vary, sometimes estimated to be between approximately 5% and 20%
(Boundless, n.d.; McIvor, 2024).
- For
example, in invertebrates, about 10% of the food eaten is turned into
their own body, making it available to predators. This figure can range
from around 5% in carnivores (āļŠัāļāļ§์āļิāļāđāļื้āļ) to
nearly 20% for herbivores (āļŠัāļāļ§์āļิāļāļืāļ) (McIvor, 2024). So,
if a rabbit (āļāļĢāļ°āļ่āļēāļĒ) eats 1000 Joules of
energy from carrots (āđāļāļĢāļāļ), only about 100 Joules
become rabbit biomass! ðĨ➡️ð (1000J
➡️ 100J)
Why the energy loss? (āļāļģāđāļĄāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļึāļāļŠูāļāđāļŠีāļĒāđāļ?) ðĪ
There are several reasons for this significant energy loss
at each transfer (Boundless, n.d.):
- Metabolic
Processes (āļāļĢāļ°āļāļ§āļāļāļēāļĢāđāļāļēāļāļĨāļēāļ): Organisms
use a large portion of the energy they assimilate for their own life
processes, such as:
- Respiration
(āļāļēāļĢāļŦāļēāļĒāđāļ) ðĻ
- Movement
(āļāļēāļĢāđāļāļĨื่āļāļāđāļŦāļ§) ð♀️ðĻ
- Maintaining
body heat (āļāļēāļĢāļĢัāļāļĐāļุāļāļŦāļ ูāļĄิāļĢ่āļēāļāļāļēāļĒ) ðĨ (especially for warm-blooded
animals - āļŠัāļāļ§์āđāļĨืāļāļāļุ่āļ)
- Growth
and reproduction (āļāļēāļĢāđāļāļĢิāļāđāļิāļāđāļāđāļĨāļ°āļāļēāļĢāļŠืāļāļัāļāļุ์) ðą➡️ðģ Much of this energy is lost
as thermal energy (heat) to the environment.
- Incomplete
Consumption (āļāļēāļĢāļิāļāđāļĄ่āļŦāļĄāļ): Not all parts of
an organism are consumed by the next trophic level.
- For
instance, bones (āļāļĢāļ°āļูāļ) and fur (āļāļ) of
animals or roots (āļĢāļēāļ) of plants may not be eaten,
so their stored energy isn't transferred.
- Indigestible
Materials (āļŠ่āļ§āļāļี่āļĒ่āļāļĒāđāļĄ่āđāļ้): Energy may
also be stored in consumed parts that cannot be easily digested.
- Undigested
material is eliminated as waste products (āļāļāļāđāļŠีāļĒ), such as
faeces (āļุāļāļāļēāļĢāļ°), and the energy contained in these materials
is not assimilated or transferred.
- This
inefficiency limits the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems. Food
chains are rarely more than 4 or 5 organisms long because there's
insufficient energy left to support longer chains (NEXT IAS Team, 2024).
Imagine a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy... the quality (energy)
gets worse each time! ð➡️ð➡️ðð
2. Bioaccumulation: The Slow Build-Up (āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ:
āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļĒ่āļēāļāļ้āļēāđ) ð§Š➡️ð
Bioaccumulation, on the other hand, is the gradual buildup
of substances, like pesticides (āļĒāļēāļ่āļēāđāļĄāļĨāļ) or other chemicals (āļŠāļēāļĢāđāļāļĄีāļื่āļāđ),
within the tissues of a single living organism over time (Wikipedia
contributors, n.d.-a).
- It
happens when an organism absorbs a substance faster than it can
lose or eliminate it through processes like metabolism (āļāļēāļĢāđāļāļēāļāļĨāļēāļ)
or excretion (āļāļēāļĢāļัāļāļ่āļēāļĒ).
- It
specifically refers to the increased concentration of a pollutant within
an organism.
- Substances
that bioaccumulate often have a long biological half-life (āļāļĢึ่āļāļีāļ§ิāļāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļāļĒāļēāļ§āļāļēāļ),
meaning they take a long time to break down in the body. This increases
the risk of chronic poisoning (āļāļēāļĢāđāļ็āļāļิāļĐāđāļĢื้āļāļĢัāļ) even at low
environmental levels (Wikipedia contributors, n.d.-a).
- Persistent
chemicals, such as DDT (āļีāļีāļี) and PCBs (āļีāļีāļี),
which are stored in fatty tissues (āđāļื้āļāđāļĒื่āļāđāļāļĄัāļ) and do not break
down readily, are particularly prone to bioaccumulation (Purdue University
& USEPA Region 5, n.d.).
- Think
of it like a piggy bank (āļāļĢāļ°āļุāļāļāļāļĄāļŠิāļ) ð·ð° that only takes in coins but rarely lets any out.
Over time, the piggy bank gets very full!
3. Relationship & Contrast: Energy Flow vs.
Bioaccumulation (āļāļ§āļēāļĄāļŠัāļĄāļัāļāļ์āđāļĨāļ°āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāļāļ่āļēāļ: āļāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļ vs.
āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ)
ðĪð
3.1 The Connection: Food Chains & Webs (āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļื่āļāļĄāđāļĒāļ:
āļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢāđāļĨāļ°āļŠāļēāļĒāđāļĒāļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ) ð
The relationship between bioaccumulation and energy flow
lies in the fact that bioaccumulating substances are transferred through
ecosystems along the same pathways as energy – the food chains and food
webs (Purdue University & USEPA Region 5, n.d.).
- As
organisms at higher trophic levels consume organisms from lower levels
that have accumulated a substance, the substance can become more
concentrated in the tissues of the higher-level consumers. This is Biomagnification
(āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ).
- Bioaccumulation
(āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ): Happens within one organism.
(āļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāđāļāļāļĨāļēāļัāļ§āđāļีāļĒāļ§ ð )
- Biomagnification
(āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ): Happens up the food chain,
increasing concentration at higher trophic levels. (āļāļĨāļēāđāļĨ็āļāļิāļāđāļāļĨāļāļ์āļāļāļāļี่āļĄีāļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐ
➡️ āļāļĨāļēāđāļŦāļ่āļิāļāļāļĨāļēāđāļĨ็āļāļŦāļĨāļēāļĒāļัāļ§ ➡️ āļāļāļิāļāļāļĨāļēāđāļŦāļ่ ðĶ
= āļāļāļĄีāļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐāđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļŠุāļ!)
For example, PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls - āļŠāļēāļĢāļีāļีāļี) can
bioaccumulate in zooplankton (āđāļāļĨāļāļ์āļāļāļāļŠัāļāļ§์). These are eaten by
smelt (āļāļĨāļēāļิāļ§),
which are then eaten by lake trout (āļāļĨāļēāđāļāļĢāļēāļ์āļāļ°āđāļĨāļŠāļēāļ), and finally by
fish-eating birds like herring gulls (āļāļāļāļēāļāļāļ§āļĨāđāļŪāļĢ์āļĢิ่āļ). This results in
dramatically increasing concentrations of PCBs at each higher trophic level.
The highest levels are often found in the eggs of the gulls (Purdue University
& USEPA Region 5, n.d.).
- The
concentration of some chemicals in the fatty tissues of top predators (āļู้āļĨ่āļēāļŠูāļāļŠุāļ) can be millions of times higher
than in the open water! ð§➡️ðĶ
(āđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļึ้āļāđāļ็āļāļĨ้āļēāļāđāļ่āļē!) That's scary! ðą
3.2 Key Differences Summarized (āļŠāļĢุāļāļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļāļāļ่āļēāļāļี่āļŠāļģāļัāļ)
ð
|
Feature |
Energy Flow (āļāļēāļĢāđāļŦāļĨāļāļāļāļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļ) |
Bioaccumulation / Biomagnification (āļāļēāļĢāļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄ/āļāļēāļĢāļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļēāļāļีāļ§āļ āļēāļ) |
|
What happens up the food chain? (āđāļิāļāļāļ°āđāļĢāļึ้āļāđāļāļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ?) |
Decreases
(āļĨāļāļĨāļ)
- about 90% lost at each step as heat/waste. (āļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļĨāļāļĨāļ
āļāļĢāļ°āļĄāļēāļ 90% āļŠูāļāđāļŠีāļĒāđāļāđāļāđāļ่āļĨāļ°āļั้āļāđāļāļĢูāļāļāļ§āļēāļĄāļĢ้āļāļ/āļāļāļāđāļŠีāļĒ) |
Increases
(āđāļิ่āļĄāļึ้āļ)
- concentration of toxins magnifies. (āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļāļāļāļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐāđāļิ่āļĄāļŠูāļāļึ้āļ) |
|
Direction/Movement (āļิāļĻāļāļēāļ/āļāļēāļĢāđāļāļĨื่āļāļāļี่) |
Unidirectional
flow through the ecosystem. (āđāļŦāļĨāļิāļĻāļāļēāļāđāļีāļĒāļ§ āļ่āļēāļ āļĢāļ°āļāļāļิāđāļ§āļĻ) |
Accumulates within
organisms; Magnifies up the food chain. (āļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄ āļ āļēāļĒāđāļ āļŠิ่āļāļĄีāļีāļ§ิāļ;
āļāļĒāļēāļĒāļāļāļēāļ āļึ้āļ āļŠู่āļĢāļ°āļัāļāļี่āļŠูāļāļึ้āļāđāļāļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ) |
|
Substance Nature (āļĨัāļāļĐāļāļ°āļāļāļāļŠāļēāļĢ) |
Essential
energy for life (āļāļĨัāļāļāļēāļāļāļģāđāļ็āļāļ่āļāļีāļ§ิāļ) ☀️ |
Often
harmful, persistent toxins (āļĄัāļāđāļ็āļāļŠāļēāļĢāļิāļĐāļี่āđāļ็āļāļัāļāļāļĢāļēāļĒāđāļĨāļ°āļāļāļ้āļēāļāļāļēāļ) ☠️ |
|
Impact (āļāļĨāļāļĢāļ°āļāļ) |
Limits food
chain length (āļāļģāļัāļāļāļ§āļēāļĄāļĒāļēāļ§āļāļāļāļŦ่āļ§āļāđāļ่āļāļēāļŦāļēāļĢ) |
Can lead to
toxic effects in top predators (āļāļēāļāļāļģāđāļāļŠู่āļāļĨāļāļĢāļ°āļāļāļี่āđāļ็āļāļิāļĐāđāļāļู้āļĨ่āļēāļŠูāļāļŠุāļ) ð |
Table Note: This table summarizes the main
contrasting points between energy flow and bioaccumulation/biomagnification for
educational purposes.
In summary (āļŠāļĢุāļ), energy flows through (āđāļŦāļĨāļ่āļēāļ) the
ecosystem, decreasing at each transfer, while bioaccumulating substances build
up within (āļŠāļ°āļŠāļĄāļ āļēāļĒāđāļ) organisms and can become more
concentrated up (āđāļิ่āļĄāļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļ้āļĄāļ้āļāļึ้āļ) the food chain due
to biomagnification, leveraging the same feeding relationships that facilitate
energy transfer.
3.3 Why This Matters: Risks to Top Predators (āļāļģāđāļĄāļŠิ่āļāļี้āļึāļāļŠāļģāļัāļ:
āļāļ§āļēāļĄāđāļŠี่āļĒāļāļ่āļāļู้āļĨ่āļēāļŠูāļāļŠุāļ) ðĶ
ðŧðĶ
Given the significant risks posed by biomagnification to top
predators, a relevant next step for analysis could be to assess specific
pollutants that are known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify within a particular
ecosystem of interest. This involves mapping their pathways through key food
chains to identify which species and trophic levels are most vulnerable and
quantifying potential risk thresholds. Protecting the whole ecosystem means
understanding these hidden dangers! ð❤️
Bibliography: āļāļĢāļĢāļāļēāļุāļāļĢāļĄ ð
Boundless. (n.d.). 46.2C: Transfer of Energy between
Trophic Levels. Biology LibreTexts. Retrieved from https://bio.libretexts.org/@go/page/14227
Mani Kanth. (2018, April 16). Energy flow in ecosystem
[PPT]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/ManiKanth/energy-flow-in-ecosystem-96048230
McIvor, L. M. (2024, November 21). Efficiency of Energy
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Singh, A. K. (n.d.). FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS. Dr.
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