4.2 energy flows

Question 1

Chemical energy Flows through the food chain

Answer 1

1st trophic level → 2nd trophic level → 3rd trophic level → 4th trophic level

Question 2

Only ~10% of energy is transferred between trophic levels. This is due to:

Answer 2

Energy transformations are never 100% efficient
Energy is lost as heat or excreted in feces
Energy is used by the organism in metabolic reactions (respiration)

Question 3

why are food chains only 4 or 5 trophic levels?

Answer 3

Limited by available energy
Size and design (aka. Predator is larger than prey)
Foraging strategies of species (optimal foraging)
Fragility of long chains

Question 4

biomass

Answer 4

Total mass of organic compounds in a group of organisms.
Higher trophic levels have less biomass.
Higher trophic levels need to feed more.

Question 5

units for energy pyramids

Answer 5

kJ ⚈ m-2 yr-1

Question 6

draw an energy pyramid

Answer 6

see ipad