B18.9 Biomass transfers

Question 1

How is biomass lose in waste?

Answer 1

When excess more protein is present - the excess is broken down
Part of the amino acid molecules are passed out of the body as urea in the urine

Question 2

How can movement reduce biomass?

Answer 2

Movement requires a great deal of energy
Contracting muscles carry a lot of respiration
The more an animal moves about - the more biomass from its food is used in respiration and the more energy is transferred to the surroundings

Question 3

How can temperature affect biomass?

Answer 3

Keeping a constant body temperature requires the bodies of the organisms to use energy in order to provide a constant temperature

Question 4

Why is biomass lost in faeces?

Answer 4

Some of the biomass ingested by an animal cannot be used.
Most herbivores cannot digest cellulose in plant material.
Most carnivores cannot break down and digest hooves, claws, bones, and teeth.
Indigestible materials are egested as faeces, meaning biomass is lost.