energy in ecosystems Flashcards
how is energy transferred?
energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next along a food chain when one living organism consumes another living organism as a food source
how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to another and what is it for?
10% of energy at each trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level for growth
how much energy is lost at each trophic level and how is it lost?
90% of energy at each trophic level is lost through heat, movement and undigested materials
why is there progressive energy loss in food chains?
there is a progressive loss of energy from the food chain as more energy is lost at each trophic level than is passed on
what can food chains be converted into?
pyramids
what are the two types of food chain pyramids?
- pyramid of numbers
- pyramid of energy
what does a pyramid of numbers show?
the total number of organisms at each stage of a food chain
what does a pyramid of energy show?
the total energy contained within organisms at each stage of a food chain
what are the problems with pyramids of numbers?
a pyramid of numbers is less reliable as it does not always represent a pyramid shape
how is a food chain deemed energy efficient?
a food chain that consists of fewer trophic levels is said to be more energy efficient
why are food chains with less trophic levels more energy efficient?
because there is less energy loss overall due to fewer transfers that occur between the producer and the top consumer
