Concept explainers
The energy flow through an ecosystem.
Answer to Problem 1CQ
Energy flows through one trophic level to the next. At each level, approximately 90 percent of the energy is lost. The producers have the largest amount of energy, and as we move up in the food chain, the energy keeps decreasing.
Explanation of Solution
The ecosystem is arranged in different trophic levels depending on the type of food they eat. Producers form the first trophic level because they produce their own food. Primary consumers or herbivores consume these producers to obtain energy. They form the second trophic level. Carnivores form the next trophic level by eating these herbivores in order to obtain food and energy.
The energy flows from one trophic level to the other. About 90 percent of the available energy at a trophic level is lost when transferred to the other trophic level. The producers are the first trophic level. Therefore, they have the maximum energy and the organisms present at the top of the food chain receive the least amount of energy.
Hence, energy flows from producers to primary consumers and from primary consumers to carnivores with a 90 percent loss at each level.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 23 Solutions
Integrated Science
- Why Geothermal Energy Is Important? Why geothermal energy is important for the future?arrow_forwardForestry used to be considered a non-renewable source. What did we do to make this a renewable source of energy?arrow_forwardList of non-renewable resources found at home and how can this be conserve to make it more useful through the years to save money and help reduce environmental degradationarrow_forward
- Earth's Systems react in multiple ways. For this question, choose the systems that are working together to create the phenomenon described. A mountain range blocks rainfall from reaching an area (known as a rain shadow), making it a dry, desert biome This phenomenon involves and thearrow_forwardWhat do you mean by Photovoltaic generation?arrow_forwardDescribe and draw diagram of Bio-gas plant.arrow_forward
- Wind energy seems to have many advantagesHowever, when you share these in a conversation you are told that this is not a useful technology because winds may not blow when electricity is most neededIs this a valid reason to not pursue wind energy?arrow_forwardDo you think nuclear power is a sustainable energy source? Why?arrow_forwardWhich of the following represents an accurate pathway of energy transfer through trophic levels of an ecosystem? Sun → Grass → Rabbit → Wolf Wolf Grasshopper Rabbit O Grass Rabbit → Grasshopper O Rabbit –→ Dandelions → Grassarrow_forward
- How do nonrenewable resources and renewable resources differ ?arrow_forward. Explain why a simple mass balance calculation is not likely to describe phosphorus retention or removal from a lake. Consider lake mixing, sedimentation, trophic status, and redox cycling. Use lake profile diagrams to aid in explaining your answerarrow_forwardCan you explain the kinetics of recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth? (Draw three plots showing the kinetics of each process and explain the plot)arrow_forward
- An Introduction to Physical SciencePhysicsISBN:9781305079137Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar TorresPublisher:Cengage Learning