Can someone please discuss the Energy flow through an ecosystem and the relative efficiency with which.....?

Question

I don't understand. Can someone please help me?

4. The energy flow in ecosystems is based on the primary productivity of autotrophs.

(a) Discuss the energy flow through an ecosystem and the relative efficiency with which it occurs

(b) Discuss the impact of the following on energy flow on a global scale

-Deforestation

-Global climate change

Answer 1

Autotrophs are the producers in a food chain. Plants and other organisms which carry out photosynthesis are photoautotrophs (or phototrophs). Bacteria which derive energy from oxidizing inorganic compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonium and ferrous iron) are chemoautotrophs, and include the lithotrophs.

Autotrophs are fundamental to the food chains of all plant ecosystems. They take energy from the environment (in the form of sunlight or inorganic chemicals) and use it to create carbon-based organic molecules.

A) energy flows up hill to animals from pants

B) Deforestation makes it harder for energy to travel up the food chain to animals

Global climate change effects are uclear.  It will affect local ecosytems and the world as a whole but we don't know what will happen.