Biomass

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Why is biomass lost between trophic levels?
- Respiration oxidising glucose to carbon dioxide and water
- Inedible parts of animals not being eaten (lignin, bones)
- Indigestible matter that is eaten but not absorbed then excreted as faeces
How is energy lost by plants?
- Sunlight may not be used by the leaf in photosynthesis (only 2% of light that hits the leaf is converted into sugar)
- Light passes through the leaf without being absorbed by chlorophyll
- Some wavelengths of light cannot be used for photosynthesis (green light)
- Light is reflected by the leafLimiting factors e.g. carbon dioxide
What is the glucose not converted into starch used for by plants?

Used for the glycolysis and respiration
What percentage of plant energy is typically incorporated into herbivore biomass?

5%
Why is such a small percentage of plant energy converted into herbivore biomass?
- Some energy is lost as heat during respiration
- Not all of the plant material will be eaten
- Not all of the plant can be digested (cellulose) so energy is lost in faeces
What percentage of herbivore energy is converted into carnivore biomass?

10%
Why is a small percentage of herbivore energy converted to carnivore biomass?

Some energy is lost as heat during respirationNot all material is eaten (bones)Some energy is lost in faeces although protein is very digestible
What should one never say in relation to energy and photosynthesis?
- Energy is used for photosynthesis
- Say energy is lost as heat during the electron transport chain stage of respiration instead

Author

camturnbull

274625

Card Set

Biomass

Description

AQA BIOL4 Biomass

Updated

2014-05-17T08:32:22Z

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