Pyramids Of Biomass

Question 1

How can the transfer of Biomass throughout a food chain be represented ?

Answer 1

As a pyramid of biomass

Question 2

How must pyramids of biomass be drawn ?

Answer 2

• bars equally spaced around the midpoint
• bars touching
• bars for the producer at the bottom
• length of each bar is proportional to the amount of biomass available at each tropic level

Question 3

how much light energy is absorbed by producers ?

Answer 3

Less than one percent is absorbed and used for photosynthesis

Question 4

How do we calculate biomass transfer ?( triangle methods

Answer 4

Percentage efficiency =
Biomass in high trophic level
Over
Biomass in lower trophic level

Times 100

Question 5

If a plant has absorbed 4 Kj of energy from the sun and has 1Kj of energy available in its tissue, work out the biomass transfer ?

Answer 5

1/4 x100
25%

Basically amount taken in over amount available

Question 6

If a cow has 24Kj of energy in its edible tissue and has ingested 600Kj of energy through the grass and feed it has eaten, work out the energy transfer ?

Answer 6

24/ 600 x100 = 4%

Amount edible or available over amount taken in or digested

Question 7

What is the easy formula for biomass transfer ?

Answer 7

Amount available or edible
Over
Amount taken in or digested

Then x100 to get a percentage

Question 8

Why do the biomass questions have such different efficient of energy transfer?

Answer 8

Cows are warm blooded therefore expend more energy and biomass on bodily process