energy flow through biological communities. food chains (trophic levels)
TRANSCRIPT
Detritivores: Scavengers & Decomposers
• Scavengers animals that obtain energy from dead and waste matter breaking it into smaller pieces (ex. vultures, earthworms, lobsters, beetles, maggots)
• Decomposers obtain energy from dead and waste matter breaking it down into chemical parts which can be reused again by producers. (ex. bacteria and fungi)
Energy Transfer is Inefficient
What percent of the energy from the plant material becomes caterpillar biomass?
An experimental fish farm consists of algae, crustaceans that eat the algae, and fish that eat the crustaceans. If the algae grow at a rate of 20 kilograms of algae per square meter of pond per year, how big will the pond have to be to harvest 1,000 kilograms of fish per year? (Assume that energy content is proportional to biomass). Show your work!
10% Rule Practice Problem