The flux of energy and matter through ecosystems - The fate of primary productivity
3 important questions on The flux of energy and matter through ecosystems - The fate of primary productivity
How much energy is lost from primary productivity to secondary productivity in aquatic and terrestrial communities?
Secondary productivity is about 1/10 of the primary productivity upon which it is based.
Some energy is lost from primary to secondary productivity. Name 3 reasons why this is and where the energy goes.
- Not all of the plant biomass produced is consumed alive by herbivores. Part of plant dies and is consumed by decomposers.
- Not all the plant biomass eaten by herbivores is assimilated and available for incorporation into consumer biomass. Some is lost is feces (passed on to decomposers).
- Not all energy that has been assimilated is actually converted into biomass. Some is los as respiratory heat.
What 3 categories of efficiency are needed to predict the pattern of energy flow and what do they mean?
- Consumption efficiency (CE)
- % of total productivity available at one trophic level that is consumed (ingested) by the next trophic level.
- E.g. % of joules produced as NPP that finds its way to the guts of herbivores. - Assimilation efficiency (AE)
- % of food energy taken into the guts of consumers in a trophic level that is assimilated across the gut wall and becomes available for incorporation into growth or to do work. Remainder is lost as feces. - Production efficiency (PE)
- % of assimilated energy that is incorporated into new biomass. Remainder is entirely lost as respiratory heat.
The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:
- A unique study and practice tool
- Never study anything twice again
- Get the grades you hope for
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
