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A Dictionary of Biology A Dictionary of Ecology A Dictionary of Plant Sciences Further reading

energy flow

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

energy flow (in ecology) The flow of energy that occurs along a food chain. Energy enters the food chain at the level of the producers (usually plants) in the form of solar energy. The plants convert solar energy into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. Chemical energy is passed from one trophic level to the next through feeding. Since a large proportion of energy is lost at each trophic level, mostly in the form of heat energy due to respiration, a food chain does not normally consist of more than five trophic levels: the fifth trophic level does not contain enough energy to support further levels. Energy is also lost from the food chain in excretory products and the remains of dead organisms; this is converted into heat energy by the action of decomposers. See also productivity; pyramid of energy.

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energy flow

A Dictionary of Ecology | 2004 | | Copyright

energy flow The exchange and dissipation of energy along the food-chains and food-webs of an ecosystem.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-energyflow.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-energyflow.html

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energy flow

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

energy flow The exchange and dissipation of energy along the food-chains and food-webs of an ecosystem.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-energyflow.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "energy flow." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-energyflow.html

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