Biomass Transfer

Question 1

What is the source of energy for nearly all life on Earth?

Answer 1

Energy from the Sun

This energy is harnessed by producers like green plants and algae through photosynthesis.

Question 2

What do producers use to make food during photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Energy transferred by light from the Sun

Producers convert this energy into glucose.

Question 3

What percentage of energy that hits producers is used for photosynthesis?

Answer 3

About 1%

This low percentage reflects energy loss at this level.

Question 4

What is biomass?

Answer 4

The mass of living material

Biomass stores energy and is made up of biological molecules created by producers.

Question 5

How much biomass is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

Answer 5

About 10%

This low efficiency indicates significant energy loss at each level.

Question 6

What are some reasons biomass is lost between trophic levels?

Answer 6

• Not all parts of consumed organisms are edible
• Organisms do not absorb all material in their food
• Biomass is converted into other substances and lost as waste

Question 7

What is one example of material that is inedible in organisms?

Answer 7

Bone

Bones are not digestible and therefore not passed on in the food chain.

Question 8

What happens to the material that organisms do not absorb?

Answer 8

It is released as feces

This waste contributes to biomass loss.

Question 9

What process uses glucose to provide energy for movement and maintaining warmth?

Answer 9

Respiration

This process generates waste products like carbon dioxide and water.

Question 10

What is urea?

Answer 10

A waste substance released in urine

Urea is produced when proteins in biomass are broken down.

Question 11

How can you calculate biomass lost at each trophic level?

Answer 11

Subtract the biomass available at the current level from the biomass available at the previous level

Example: Biomass lost at 2nd trophic level = 43 kg - 4.2 kg = 38.8 kg.

Question 12

What is the formula for calculating the efficiency of biomass transfer?

Answer 12

efficiency = (biomass transferred to the next level / biomass available at the previous level) × 100

This formula helps quantify energy loss in ecosystems.

Question 13

What was the efficiency of biomass transfer from the 1st trophic level?

Answer 13

9.8%

This calculation is based on 4.2 kg of biomass available to the ladybirds and 43 kg available to the greenflies.

Question 14

What is the biomass available to the greenflies?

Answer 14

43 kg

This is the amount of biomass before any energy transfer occurs.

Question 15

What is the biomass available to the ladybirds?

Answer 15

4.2 kg

This represents the amount of biomass after energy transfer to the next trophic level.

Question 16

What is the biomass available to the birds?

Answer 16

0.04 kg

This is the amount of biomass available to the next trophic level after the ladybirds.