Transfers of biomass between trophic levels
I can explain biomass transfer between trophic levels in food chains and calculate the efficiency of biomass transfers.
Transfers of biomass between trophic levels
I can explain biomass transfer between trophic levels in food chains and calculate the efficiency of biomass transfers.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- All food chains start with a producer that makes the biomass that is transferred to consumers in higher trophic levels.
- Not all biomass from a trophic level is passed to the next one (due to respiration, uneaten parts, egestion, excretion).
- Pyramids of biomass are scaled diagrams that can be used to show the amount of biomass present at each trophic level.
- % efficiency of biomass transfer = (biomass in higher trophic level ÷ biomass in lower trophic level) × 100
- How efficiency of biomass transfer affects the number of organisms in higher trophic levels.
Common misconception
A misconception that is often seen is that there is a build up of biomass along a food chain.
The lesson outlines how biomass is actually lost between trophic levels through life processes.
Keywords
Producer - A producer is an organism that makes its own food.
Biomass - Biomass is the mass of living material in one or more organisms.
Trophic level - A trophic level is the position of an organism in a food chain diagram.
Pyramid of biomass - A pyramid of biomass is a diagram which shows the biological mass (biomass) of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain diagram.
Efficiency - The efficiency is how much of something is transferred compared to how much is available, e.g. how much biomass is transferred to a consumer compared to how much is available.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
producer
primary consumer
secondary consumer
tertiary consumer
quaternary consumer