Define the terms autotrophy, heterotrophy, primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer.
Define the terms autotrophy, heterotrophy, primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer.
Autotrophic are those organisms that use other organic chemicals to manufacture their own food. Autotrophic are known to be independent on this process of manufacturing food. They highly depend on nonliving substances like sunlight and chlorophyll which acts as a catalyst in this process. The process of the autotrophic manufacturing their own food is known as photosynthesis. Examples of autotrophic organisms include plants, blue-green bacteria and algae. These organisms diffuse solar energy from the radiations to help in the process of photosynthesis.
Heterotrophic are creatures that take in biomass for production of energy and nutrition in their bodies. All heterotrophic are fully dependent on autotrophic for biological products. All animals are known to be heterotrophic and also the microorganisms. Heterotrophic are classified according to the biomass they take in. For example animals that feed on plants are referred to as herbivores. Animals that feed on other animals are called carnivores. Also there are those microorganisms that feed on dead plants and animals and they are referred to as decomposers. There is also that class of creatures that feed on both plant and animals that are living and they are known as omnivores.
Primary producers are all those organisms that take in chemicals and other nonliving materials to manufacture their own food. They do not feed on other organisms to gain energy and nutrition but they manufacture their own food. All plants and algae are known to be the primary producers. This means that autotrophic are primary producers. On the other hand, all herbivores are primary consumers but not all primary consumers are herbivores. This is because herbivores are those animals that feed on plants only. Plants are known to be primary producers therefore this makes the herbivores to be the primary consumers. Examples of herbivores include cows, goats, sheep, rabbits and all other animals that feed on plants. The other class is that of secondary consumers which carnivores. These are the animals that feed on herbivores. The herbivores feed on plants and the herbivores are feed on by the carnivores. This trend is what creates a food chain as it starts from the primary producers to the last which are the decomposers.
What is Pico plankton? What are some examples of these organisms? Why are they important?
Pico plankton is a fraction of plankton which is usually classified into photosynthetic and heterotrophic. Photosynthetic Pico planktons are those that assist in the process of photosynthesis while heterotrophic Pico planktons are those that do not perform the process of photosynthesis. Achaea form a major part of Pico plankton in the Antarctic and they are also in a large portion in other parts of the ocean. Photosynthetic Pico planktons are found in the central parts of the ocean where the plants are located very deep in the waters therefore the levels of nutrients in those parts are very low. There are present in order to assist in the process of photosynthesis for those plants that are found in the deep waters. Examples of Pico planktons include the prokaryotic and eukaryotic phototrophic and heterotrophic organisms that are located in most of the lakes and tropic state.
Explain the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates?
Vertebrates are all those animals that have a backbone. Vertebrates can either be warm or cold blooded. Those that are warm blooded can only survive on land and places with favorable temperature. Those that are cold blooded have adapted well in water bodies as they retain the heat within the body. Examples of vertebrates include mammals, reptiles, fish, birds and amphibians. All human beings are vertebrates because they have the back bone and a spinal cord. Animals like crocodiles, fish, cows, dogs, frogs and birds are all vertebrates because they have the bone structure. Vertebrates have a high developed brain and nervous system. They have an outer protective skin for their cellular.
However invertebrates are insects and worms that do not have a bone structure. They are termed as invertebrates because they do not have a back bone. They usually reproduce sexually and they have no cell wall. They therefore do not require a skin for protection. Examples of invertebrates include ants, ringworms, tapeworms and grasshoppers. Most invertebrates are known to be heterotrophic.
What are extremophiles? Where can they be found? How can they survive there?
Extremophiles are those organisms that have a unique characteristic of being able to survive in area with extremes. They are known for their high tolerance in areas that are considered of extreme environments. For example there are animals that can survive in waters that are extremely salty and they make that as their habitat. There are those who will do very well in areas whose temperatures are extremely low and others extremely high. There are also those organisms that will be best suite by volcanic pools and they adopt that as their habitat. Basically extremity can only be described by the beholder of such extreme conditions. However there are those organisms like plants and animals that have a complex life and therefore cannot survive in such kind of extremity because they are fragile.
Majority of extremophiles are Achaea and bacteria which can survive in very hostile conditions. They are known to be fragile but they have a way of making themselves adapt to such extreme climatic conditions. Extremophiles can be found in areas with very low temperatures, high concentration of sugars, high levels of dissolved metals and places with very high acidity level. These bacteria need such extreme condition for them to survive and to work efficiently. They have been made in a way to survive in those harsh conditions.
What are wind turbines? Why is it often desirable to locate them offshore?
Wind turbines are devices that are well known for their extraction of energy from the wind. They can only work under the pressure from the wind in order for them to drive a pump. Wind turbines are usually used for the production of electrical power. These wind turbines are best located offshore because this is where the concentration of wind is constant. The quantitative measure of wind energy is best at the offshore of large water bodies. Cyclic winds may destroy the turbines due to the strong forces that accompany them.
What does it mean to be bio-degradable?
Biodegradable matter is usually the organic material such as animal or plant matter that comes from living organisms and their breaking down can be put to use by the microorganism. All living organisms that have cells in them are biodegradable meaning that they decompose easily once their cells are dead. There is an extracellular surfactant that is secreted by the microorganisms that hasten the process of decomposition. The whole process of decomposition of the living organisms is what is known as biodegradation.
