Energy in Biomass (2)

Question 1

It has been estimated that only 10% of the energy in the tissues of a producer is passed onto a consumer.
What are all producers?

Answer 1

Green plants (or some bacteria)

Question 2

It has been estimated that only 10% of the energy in the tissues of a producer is passed onto a consumer.
Give three reasons for this loss of energy.

Answer 2

.not all of the plant/producer can be digested
.energy lost in waste/urine/faeces 
.energy lost in movement/growth
.heat to the surroundings
. heat to maintain body temperature

Question 3

It has been estimated that only 10% of the energy in the tissues of a producer is passed onto a consumer.
Pyramids of biomass rarely consist of more than four levels.

Explain this.

Answer 3

Transfer of energy between each level is low/inefficient/rarely more than 10% Therefore, not enough left to sustain life beyond fourth level

Question 4

What is meant by a ‘warm-blooded’ animal?

Answer 4

Can maintain their body at a constant temperature

Question 5

Give the two classes of organisms that are ‘warm-blooded’.

Answer 5

Mammals and birds

Question 6

Cold-blooded animals generally do not have to eat as much food as a warm-blooded animal.

Why is this?

Answer 6

Less energy used to maintain body temp/tend to move less

Question 7

In a Florida ecosystem, it is estimated that there are 87,000 units of energy passed on to producers but only 14,000 units is passed on to consumers.

What is the efficiency of this energy transfer?

Answer 7

14,000 ÷ 87,000 X 100% = 16.09/16.1%

Question 8

At each stage of a food chain the amount of energy available…

Answer 8

Decreases

Question 9

Much of the energy is lost as…

Answer 9

heat

Question 10

Food chains

Answer 10

This shows what eats what.

Question 11

Food webs

Answer 11

This shows how food chains are related.

Question 12

Biomass

Answer 12

The dry mass of living material.

Question 13

Pyramids of biomass

Answer 13

This shows the mass of each organism at each feeding level.

Question 14

Energy

Answer 14

This is lost at each stage of the food chain.