Explain why there are differences in the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels. Explain what happens to the energy which is not transferred to the next trophic level in a food chain when one organism feeds on another.

Biology 2e
2nd Edition
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Chapter46: Ecosystems
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 13RQ: Which term describes the process whereby toxic substances increase along trophic levels of an...
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  1. Explain why there are differences in the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels.
  2. Explain what happens to the energy which is not transferred to the next trophic level in a food chain when one organism feeds on another.
Table 3.5 The number of organisms, biomass and energy
in each trophic level of Silver Springs, Florida
Trophic level Number of
organisms
Biomass
Energy
(kJ m-2 year-!)
(g m-2)
Tertiary
consumers T4
0.01
1.5
67
24 x 10
Secondary
consumers T3
11.0
1602
41 x 104
14 x 103
Primary
consumers T2
37.0
Primary
27 x 1010
809.0
87 x 103
producers T,
Based on Odum (1957).
Transcribed Image Text:Table 3.5 The number of organisms, biomass and energy in each trophic level of Silver Springs, Florida Trophic level Number of organisms Biomass Energy (kJ m-2 year-!) (g m-2) Tertiary consumers T4 0.01 1.5 67 24 x 10 Secondary consumers T3 11.0 1602 41 x 104 14 x 103 Primary consumers T2 37.0 Primary 27 x 1010 809.0 87 x 103 producers T, Based on Odum (1957).
T4 = 1
T3 = 25
12.5
T2 = 600
300
300
T1 = 10,000
5000
5000
Figure 3.7 How to draw an ecological pyramid. The value for each trophic level should be divided by two and this value
is the width of the bar on either side of the centre line. The top bar (T4) is often so narrow that it has to be drawn as single
line. Not drawn to scale.
Transcribed Image Text:T4 = 1 T3 = 25 12.5 T2 = 600 300 300 T1 = 10,000 5000 5000 Figure 3.7 How to draw an ecological pyramid. The value for each trophic level should be divided by two and this value is the width of the bar on either side of the centre line. The top bar (T4) is often so narrow that it has to be drawn as single line. Not drawn to scale.
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