Energy Transfers in Ecosystems

Question 1

What is the energy unit of food we eat?

Answer 1

Kilojoules (kJ)

Question 2

How do biologists express the energy available in a trophic level in a particular area?

Answer 2

Kilojoules per square meter per year (kJ/m²/year)

Question 3

Only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to another, why?

Answer 3

Some parts of the organism are not eaten

Some materials are not digested and absorbed, instead they are egested as faeces, or excreted

Some materials are respired to release energy