3. Ecology Flashcards
1
Q
What is the primary source of energy for most communities of living organisms?
A
Radiation from the Sun.
2
Q
How much incident energy from light do plants and algae transfer for photosynthesis?
A
About 1%
3
Q
Why is only approximately 10% of the biomass from each trophic level transferred to the next level?
A
Because some materials and energy are lost in waste materials and respiration supplies all the energy needs for living processes.
4
Q
What is a pyramid of biomass?
A
A diagram that shows the biomass at each stage of a food chain, drawn to scale.
5
Q
How can the efficiency of food production be improved?
A
By reducing the number of stages in a food chain.
6
Q
What do plants often compete for?
A
Light, space, water, and nutrients from the soil.
7
Q
A
