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Chapter 37: Problem 46

The following is the equation for trophic level transfer efficiency: (production at present trophic level/production at past trophic level)\times100. If primary producers produce \(1600 \mathrm{kcal} / \mathrm{m}^{2},\) and primary consumers have 900 \(\mathrm{kcal} / \mathrm{m}^{2}\) what is the trophic level transfer efficiency? a. 50 b. 200 c. 800 d. 1600

Short Answer

Expert verified
The trophic level transfer efficiency is approximately 56%, but it does not match the provided options.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Given Values

Note that primary producers produce 1600 kcal/m虏 and primary consumers have 900 kcal/m虏.
02

Write Down the Trophic Level Transfer Efficiency Formula

The formula for trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) is: \[ \text{TLTE} = \left( \frac{\text{production at present trophic level}}{\text{production at past trophic level}} \right) \times 100 \]
03

Insert the Given Values into the Formula

Substitute the given values into the formula to find the efficiency: \[ \text{TLTE} = \left( \frac{900 \text{ kcal/m}^2}{1600 \text{ kcal/m}^2} \right) \times 100 \]
04

Simplify the Fraction

Simplify the fraction inside the parentheses: \[ \frac{900}{1600} = 0.5625 \]
05

Calculate the Efficiency

Multiply the simplified fraction by 100 to find the percentage: \[ 0.5625 \times 100 = 56.25 \]%.
06

Choose the Correct Answer

Compare the computed value (56.25%) with the provided options. None of the options match exactly, indicating a potential mistake in either the problem statement or options. The closest logical consideration would be approximately 56.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
Energy transfer in ecosystems is the movement of energy through different trophic levels. These levels represent stages in food chains. The energy starts with primary producers. It is then transferred to various consumers.

Energy is lost during each transfer through several means. These include metabolic processes, heat loss, and incomplete digestion. Only a small fraction of the original energy makes it to the next level. This process is known as 'trophic level transfer efficiency' (TLTE).

Understanding energy transfer helps illustrate the efficiency of ecosystems. It shows why there are usually fewer top predators compared to primary producers.
Primary Producers
Primary producers are organisms that produce biomass from inorganic compounds. They form the base of an ecosystem's food chain.

Examples of primary producers include:
  • Plants
  • Algae
  • Cyanobacteria
These organisms capture solar energy through photosynthesis.
They create the energy-rich organic compounds that fuel the entire ecosystem.
Primary producers are crucial as they convert abiotic energy (like sunlight) into a form that other organisms can consume.
Primary Consumers
Primary consumers are organisms that eat primary producers. They are usually herbivores and are the second trophic level in a food chain.

Examples of primary consumers include:
  • Cows
  • Deer
  • Zebras
These animals gain their energy by consuming plants. Not all the energy from the plants is transferred to these primary consumers.
Some of it is lost as heat, waste, or used in metabolic processes. This results in lower energy content in primary consumers compared to primary producers.
Ecological Efficiency Calculation
Ecological efficiency, or trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE), measures the percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next.
It can be calculated using the formula:

\(\text{TLTE} = \frac{\text{production at present trophic level}}{\text{production at past trophic level}} \times 100\)
For example, if primary producers have 1600 kcal/m虏 and primary consumers have 900 kcal/m虏:
  • Insert the values into the formula: \(\text{TLTE} = \frac{900}{1600} \times 100\)
  • Simplify the fraction: \(\frac{900}{1600} = 0.5625\)
  • Multiply by 100: \(\text{TLTE} = 0.5625 \times 100 = 56.25\text{%}\)

This calculation shows that 56.25% of the energy from primary producers is transferred to primary consumers, reflecting the energy loss inherent in ecosystem dynamics.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A scientist wants to analyze how deer grazing alters plant species composition in a forest and sections off a portion of the forest for observation and analysis. What type of system is the scientist using? a. mesocosm b. simulation c. microcosm d. duplication

Which of the following statements is true of trophic levels in an ecosystem? a. Food chains are accurate representations of dynamics in an ecosystem. b. In terrestrial ecosystems, primary producers commonly eat plants. c. Food webs are easier to interpret than food chains. d. The least amount of energy is available at the top of a food chain.

How do agricultural animals such as cattle raise atmospheric carbon levels? What is a side effect? a. Cattle produce carbon monoxide, which when inhaled can cause death. b. Cattle produce carbon monoxide, which is a major contributor to global warming. c. Agricultural animals increase the amount of greenhouse gases by producing carbon dioxide and methane, so they contribute to global warming. d. Agricultural animals increase the amount of greenhouse gases by producing ozone, which contributes to global warming.

Although producers are essential for energy to flow into an ecosystem, consumers also have important roles. What might happen in an aquatic system with excess consumers relative to producers? a. Oxygen depletion would result in dieoff. b. There would be an excess of the basal energy source. c. Consumers would deplete the abundance of producers. d. There would be more undigestable animal parts.

If you examined predator-prey relationships within an ecosystem and noticed that the removal of predators also resulted in the die-off of herbivores, what would you suspect occurred? a. Removal of predators would directly lower the number of herbivores. b. The lack of predators could mean that too much primary production occurred. c. Herbivores from another region may have entered the ecosystem and consumed the primary producers, causing death of the original herbivores species. d. Overeating by herbivores could have caused depletion of the primary producers, leaving the herbivores without enough food.
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