10. (a) (i) What is the principal source of energy for the Earth’s ecosystems? (ii) Name the process that converts this energy into chemical energy in plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 10 - 2007

The process that converts solar energy into chemical energy in plants is known as photosynthesis. During this process, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

A producer in the food web shown in the diagram is seaweed or plant plankton.

Animal plankton primarily feeds on plant plankton, which consists of simple plants and phytoplankton.

The organism that feeds on animal plankton is mussels.

Periwinkles are referred to as primary consumers because they feed on seaweed and other plant sources, making them herbivores in the food web.

One possible food chain starting with a producer is:
Plant Plankton → Animal Plankton → Mussels → Seals.

The named ecosystem I investigated is a coral reef.

I collected a coral polyp using a matching method such as underwater nets or hand collection while snorkeling.

The coral polyp is adapted to the coral reef ecosystem through its symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, which performs photosynthesis and provides nutrients.

An abiotic factor is a non-living component of an ecosystem that influences the living organisms within it. Examples include temperature, sunlight, soil, and water.

Two abiotic factors investigated in the coral reef ecosystem are water temperature and salinity.

Water temperature was measured using a digital thermometer, while salinity was measured using a refractometer.