6.3.1 Transfer of biomass/succession

Question 1

Trophic level

Answer 1

place within food chain

Question 2

Biomass

Answer 2

mass of living material in a particular food chain to calculate biomass you multiple number of organisms by their dry mass

Question 3

Dry mass

Answer 3

-bomb calorimeter burn sample in high pressure of oxygen
-the rise in temp of water is measured

Question 4

Why does biomass decrease at each tropic level?

Answer 4

-not all biomass eaten so not transferred
-some is transferred to the environment as heat
-some excreted in urine or faeces
-some indigestible

Question 5

Biomass tranfer

Answer 5

-net production (Ki/m-2?ur-1) energy available at each trophic level to allow for photosynthesis production and consumer feeding patterns throughout the year
-transf between levels, energy contained transf
-ecological efficiency= efficiency with which biomass energy is transf from one trophic level to the next (represented as pyramid)
-factors affecting net primary production=high temp, increase in sunlight, more photosynthesis so more storage of biomass

Question 6

Ecological efficiency

Answer 6

energy/biomass available after the transfer/energy/biomass available before transfer x100

Question 7

Human manipulation

Answer 7

Primary productivity
-increase water e.g irrigation and drought-resistant crops
-reduce competition e.g remove weeds and thinning new plants

Secondary productivity
-selective breeding (faster growth rate, increased egg/milk production)
-reducing movement (zero grazing for cattle)