Trophics

Question 1

Define trophic

Answer 1

Feeding

Question 2

List the trophics

Answer 2

Level 1
= producer
Level 2
= primary consumer
Level 3
= secondary consumer
Level 4
= tertiary consumer

Question 3

Importance of decomposers

Answer 3

• Break down dead plants and animals
  = secrete enzymes into environment
  = enzymes digest dead material
  = small soluble food diffuse back into decomposer
  = return mineral ions back to the soil

Question 4

Define biomass

Answer 4

The mass of all organisms at a certain trophic level

Question 5

Why is dry biomass more useful

Answer 5

The moisture content of organisms can vary widely
= can produce inaccurate results

Question 6

Why does biomass decrease at each trophic level

Answer 6

• not all of the material the animal ingests is absorbed
• some biomass absorbed is converted into waste products and is released
• large amount of biomass used for respiration to release energy

Question 7

How to workout efficiency of biomass transfer

Answer 7

Gain in biomass/ total biomass intake