2.5 Function

Essential Idea

• Energy and matter support the growth of living organisms within a system.

Assessment Statements

• 2.5.1 Explain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in the ecosystem.

• 2.5.2 Describe photosynthesis and cell respiration in terms of inputs, outputs and energy changes.

• 2.5.3 Describe and explain the transfer and transformation of energy as it flows through an ecosystem.

• 2.5.4 Describe and explain the transfer and transformation of materials as they cycle within an ecosystem.

• 2.5.5 Define; gross productivity; net productivity; primary productivity and secondary productivity.

• 2.5.6 Define and calculate both gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) from given data.

• 2.5.7 Define and calculate both gross secondary productivity (GSP) and net secondary productivity (NSP) from data.

Key Vocabulary

• Biotic components of an ecosystem

  • Producers

  • Consumers

  • Decomposers

• Energy conversion

  • Photosynthesis

  • Cell respiration

• Energy and matter

  • Storage and flow

  • Transfer and transformation

    • Radiation, reflection, absorption and conversion

    • Nutrient Cycling

      • Water, carbon, phosphorus and water

• Productivity

  • Gross primary productivity (GPP)

  • Net primary productivity (NPP)

  • Gross secondary productivity (GSP)

  • Net secondary productivity (NSP)

"Topic 2.5: Part 1" by NicheScience (8:44)