Biophysical Environment

Biophysical Environment
• Ecology studies the interaction between life forms and their
environments.
• An ecosystem is defined as a group of organisms and the environment
with which they interact. These systems import and export matter
and energy.
• The food web, or food chain, refers to the flow of energy from one
level to another in an ecosystem.

Source: Introducing Physical Geography, Third Edition by Alan Strahler, and Arthur Strahler (2000-2021). John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., USA.
Biophysical Environment
• Primary producers are plants and animals that are able to create carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and
water and light energy through the process of photosynthesis.
• In the food web, consumers feed on the primary producers or on other consumers and transfer energy
through different levels in this manner.
• Decomposers (microorganisms and bacteria) feed on decaying organic matter at all levels in the food web.
• Solar energy is absorbed initially by the primary producers and stored as chemical energy which is digested
by consumers. Only ten to fifty percent of the energy at any level is passed on to the next level;
consequently, the amount of organic matter and consumers must decrease with each level.
• Photosynthesis is a biochemical reaction which results in the production of carbohydrates and oxygen
using water, carbon dioxide, and light energy. A simplified chemical reaction is:
• H2O + CO2 + light energy = —CHOH— + O2
• In the respiration process carbohydrate is broken down and combined with oxygen to create carbon
dioxide, water, and chemical energy. A simplified chemical reaction is
• —CHOH— + O2 = CO2 + H2O + chemical energy

Source: Introducing Physical Geography, Third Edition by Alan Strahler, and Arthur Strahler (2000-2021). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., USA.