B4.1.5 Efficiency Of Biomass Transfer

Question 1

Why does biomass decrease at each trophic level

Answer 1

Energy is transferred to producers from sunlight.
Producers only transfer about 1% of the energy into chemical stores.
Most of the light energy is reflected
About half the energy transferred by photosynthesis is used in respiration.
The rest is used to increase the plants biomass

Question 2

Consumers at each trophic level convert about 10% of the chemical energy in their food to new body tissue. Why is biomass lost (8)

Answer 2

Not all of an organism is eaten
Some biomass is used in respiration
Respiration produces ATP
Muscles then use ATP for movement
Respiration also causes thermal energy to transfer to the environment
Some parts of an organisms can’t be digested
These are removed from the body in faces, also known as egestion
Waste products produced by the body are lost through excretion

Question 3

Efficiency of biomass transfer formula

Answer 3

(biomass available AFTER transfer/biomass available BEFORE transfer) * 100