5.2

The general rule for energy transfer from one level in a trophic pyramid to the next is that ___% is lost.

90

In your own words, explain how the following food web would appear as a trophic pyramid.

A trophic pyramid can display the ecological efficiency or biomass in an ecosystem. The bottom of the pyramid would be the producers, as they have the highest biomass and energy available to them. From the sun, only 1% is received by the plants, and 99% is lost before the plant can use it. The next level would be the primary consumers such a the mouse, grasshopper, giraffe, rhinoceros, or elk/deer. These consumers would be the next level since they have the next highest amount of energy and population size. The next level would be the secondary consumers like the lion or bird. These consumers eat the primary consumers and therefore receive even less energy. Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, with 90% is lost as heat. The next level up would be the tertiary consumers such as the snake or skunk. They would have less energy available to them, therefore there is less of them. There is a direct correlation between the biomass and energy available to each trophic level. The producers would be at the bottom and as the pyramid went up, the more advanced consumers would build the rest of the pyramid.

In your own words, explain how detrivores and other decomposers contribute to energy cycling in an ecosystem.

Decomposers convert animal and plant leftovers and dead animals and plants into substances that can be used by living organisms. A detrivore consumes things like dead leaves, carcasses, manure, and old skin. They feed on dead organisms but leave some parts and their feces behind, which are later converted into energy by decomposers. Their wastes are still energy products that must be broken down by decomposers. Decomposers convert detrivore leftovers and dead organisms into carbon dioxide, which is then cycled back and used in photosynthesis by plants. Decomposers convert plant and animal remain into carbon dioxide and energy which can be used by producers. Without decomposers, energy would be lost with the death of plants and animals, therefore the energy cycle wouldn't be able to continue.

Most organisms that do chemosynthesis do so with which of the following TWO chemicals?

H2S and CH4 hydrogen sulfide and methane

In your own words, explain the following diagram. Ensure to discuss both energy and biomass.

The following diagram illustrates the energy efficiency of an ecosystem as well as biomass differences. There is the most energy in the energy source, the sun, with 1,000,000 J. Only 1% of the sun's energy moves and can be used by the producers. The rest either moves through, bounces off, or is ultimately lost as heat before being able to be used. Within the plant, about 60% is used for respiration within the plant and 40% is the NPP. Only 10% of the energy is passed on from the producers to the primary consumers, with 90% of possible energy is lost as heat. The trend of only 10% of energy passing on from one trophic level to the next with 90% being lost as heat continues up the food chain. There is less and less energy for each trophic level, going up the pyramid. The energy quantity corresponds to the biomass quantity. There is a larger biomass of producers because there is more energy available. Since energy is lost as you go up the trophic levels, there is also less biomass since the less energy is available. Less energy available translates to less biomass.

Tertiary consumers or apex predators are often classified as this type of consumer.

carnivore

Which of the following biomes would you expect to have the highest net primary productivity?

coral reef

The proportion of energy that is transferred from one level to the next in a trophic pyramid is known as its ...

ecological efficiency

The majority of the energy that is wasted in the trophic pyramids is released as...

heat

In a biomass pyramid, which level would you expect to be the largest?

producers

Which of the following will play the biggest role in defining the NPP in a region at any given time?

season

Which of the following best describes why there are fewer tertiary consumers in a trophic pyramid than there are primary producers?

second law of thermodynamics

Which of the following is major source of all energy on earth?

sun