Measuring Biomass

Question 1

What are the two ways of measuring biomass?

Answer 1

dry biomass

mass of carbon

Question 2

How do you measure dry biomass?

Answer 2

• a sample of biomass is warmed on a scale until the masss
  remains constant (all the water has evaporated)
• temperature must be kept low to avoid combustion (being burnt)
• amount of water in samples varies a lot
  
  • dry biomasss gives a more representative sample
• units are kg m^-2

Question 3

How do you measure the mass of carbon?

Answer 3

• organisms are made from organic compounds (contain carbon)
• mass of carbon is a good indactor of biomass
• difficult to measure
• carbon is about 50% of the dRy biomass
• units kg m^2 yr^-1

Question 4

How do you calculate the energy stored in biomass?

Answer 4

calorimetry - used to estimate the amount of energy stored
in dry biomass
- burn a sample of biomass completely
- heat a known volume of water
- measure the temperature change of water - calculate
energy released