Apedia

A-Level Biology OCR A

Trophic Level Biomass Eaten Energy Explain Reasons Consumers

Only a small amount of biomass is converted into consumer tissue because not all biomass is eaten, some energy is lost as metabolic heat, some parts are indigestible and egested, and energy is lost in excretory waste.

Solo una piccola quantità di biomassa viene convertita in tessuto di consumo perché non tutta la biomassa viene mangiata, parte dell'energia viene persa come calore metabolico, alcune parti sono indigeribili ed espulse, e parte dell'energia viene persa nei rifiuti escretori.

Front Explain 4 reasons why consumers at each trophic level convert only a small amount of biomass in the trophic level to their own organic tissue.
Back Loss of biomass:
  • Not all biomass of an organism is eaten - plant roots/animal bones
  • Some energy transferred to environment as metabolic heat as result of movement/respiration
  • Some parts that are eaten are indigestible & are egested 
  • Some energy lost in excretory materials (urine)

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Next card: Draw label annotate diagram showing flow energy trophic

Previous card: Production primary secondary generation biomass define producer consumer

Up to card list: A-Level Biology OCR A