(Solved): SYSTEMS ECOLOGY- MARINE ECOLOGY 2) The schematics below describes how energy flow varies across ec ...

SYSTEMS ECOLOGY- MARINE ECOLOGY

2) The schematics below describes how energy flow varies across ecosystems. The size of the arrows and the size of the boxes are indicative of the amount of energy flowing through each of four functional components in each ecosystem. (a) In the ecosystems above why are the energy flows and the size of each component so different between Plankton and Stream communities? Justify your answer with reference to how energy is derived in each ecosystem and how that may influence both the primary producers (NPP) and live consumers. (b) In your opinion, briefly describe how the loss of decomposers in each of the four ecosystems would affect the flow of energy.