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Calculating biomass transfer efficiency between trophic levels

Ecology • Trophic levels in an ecosystem (biology only)

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Transfer efficiency quantifies the proportion of biomass passed from a lower trophic level to a higher level.
  • It is measured using dry biomass or energy units to prevent distortion from water content.
  • The formula for transfer efficiency is (biomass at higher trophic level ÷ biomass at lower trophic level) × 100.
  • This result expresses the fraction of biomass converted into new tissue at the higher level as a percentage, allowing direct comparison between stages in a food chain.

Flashcards

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Name two major routes for biomass loss between trophic levels.

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Losses occur through undigested waste (faeces) and respiration, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Transfer efficiency uses dry biomass or energy units to avoid water-related variation.

Typical transfer between trophic levels is about 10%; ~90% is lost through respiration and waste.

Producers limit the entire food chain, capturing only ~1% of solar energy.

Total biomass per trophic level is calculated by multiplying individual dry mass by population size.

Common causes of low transfer efficiency include undigested waste, respiration losses, low primary productivity, and poor food quality.

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