Pyramid of biomass Flashcards
1
Q
What does each bar in the pyramid of biomass represent?
A
Mass of living material at that stage of the food chain
2
Q
Give ways energy is lost from the food chain
A
Respiration - energy is lost to surroundings via heat
Inedible part of animal - cannot be eaten thus not all energy is passed down from previous trophic level.
Green plants - only use a small percentage of the light energy from the sun
3
Q
How does energy transfer?
A
The organism in the next trophic level feeds on the prey
4
Q
How does decay happen?
A
Micro-organisms break down materials by feeding on them.
5
Q
Why is there rarely more than 5 tropic levels?
A
The energy is used up
