Pyramids Of Biomass In Food Chains

The video explains pyramids of biomass, illustrating how biomass decreases at each trophic level in a food chain. It highlights that only about 10% of biomass is transferred to the next level due to factors like incomplete consumption, non-absorption, and energy use in respiration. The video also covers how to calculate the efficiency of biomass transfer using specific biomass values.

What does a pyramid of biomass represent in a food chain?

• The speed of energy transfer

• The total mass of living organisms at each level

• The energy flow between trophic levels

• The number of organisms at each level

Which of the following best describes the term 'biomass'?

• The energy produced by organisms

• The total mass of living organisms in a given area

• The speed at which organisms grow

• The number of organisms in a habitat

Why do the bars in a pyramid of biomass get smaller as you move up the trophic levels?

• Because the number of organisms increases

• Because the total mass of organisms decreases

• Because the organisms get larger

• Because the energy increases

What percentage of biomass is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?

• 50%

• 5%

• 25%

• 10%

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the limited transfer of biomass and energy?

• Organisms do not eat every part of their prey

• Some parts are not absorbed and are excreted

• All absorbed nutrients are used for growth

• Most nutrients are used for respiration

What happens to most of the nutrients that animals absorb?

• They are used to release energy through respiration

• They are used for growth

• They are stored for future use

• They are passed on to the next trophic level

Why might hawks not absorb all parts of the snakes they consume?

• They cannot digest certain parts like scales

• They eat only the skin

• They prefer only the bones

• They consume only the teeth

How is the efficiency of biomass transfer calculated?

• By dividing the biomass at the current level by the biomass at the next level

• By dividing the biomass transferred to the next level by the biomass available at the previous level and multiplying by 100

• By adding the biomass at all levels and dividing by the number of levels

• By subtracting the biomass at the next level from the biomass at the current level

If 15 kilos of biomass is transferred to snakes from rabbits, and the rabbit biomass was 144 kilos, what is the efficiency of this transfer?

• 10.4%

• 15.6%

• 12.5%

• 8.3%

What is the efficiency of biomass transfer from snakes to hawks if 1.6 kilos is transferred from 15 kilos of snake biomass?

• 9.8%

• 11.3%

• 10.7%

• 12.5%