Biodome Files

Matter and Energy in Ecosystems: Biodome Collapse

By Lynette LaBoy

The organisms in the biodome did not have enough energy storage molecules because there was not enough carbon in abiotic matter.

• Producers make all of the

energy storage molecules for an ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis, using​ carbon dioxide from abiotic matter

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Why didn't the plants and animals within the biodome​ have enough energy storage molecules?

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• Carbon is part of carbon dioxide, which is abiotic matter. Carbon is also part of energy storage (biotic matter).

• During the process of photosynthesis, producers make energy storage molecules, using carbon from carbon dioxide and energy from the sunlight.

  • This moves carbon from​ abiotic to biotic matter

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Where do the energy storage molecules in an ecosystem

come from?​

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• If one part of the system changes, it affects the rest of the system​

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• ​When there is more carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, more carbon is available to producers for making energy storage molecules.

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• ​When there is less carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) in abiotic matter, less carbon is available to producers for making energy storage molecules.​

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• When there is more sunlight, producers can make more energy storage molecules from the carbon in carbon dioxide.

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• When there is less ​sunlight, producers cannot make as many energy storage molecules from the carbon in carbon dioxide.

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​What factors affect how many energy storage molecules producers are able to make?

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