A field makes a net primary productivity of 20000 kJ for each square metre in a year…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A field makes a net primary productivity of for each square metre in a year. The herbivores eat of it, assimilate of what they eat, and make new tissue from of what they assimilate. The carnivores eat of the production of the herbivores, assimilate of that, and make new tissue from of what they assimilate.
- What is the production of the herbivores?
- What is the ecological efficiency of the herbivores?
- What is the production of the carnivores?
- What is the ecological efficiency of the carnivores?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
and . Assimilation efficiency is assimilated divided by ingested. Net production efficiency is production divided by assimilated. Ecological efficiency is the production of a level divided by that of the level below.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. NPP . Herbivores: , , . Carnivores: , , .
Plan. Chain the shares, then divide.
Step 1. (a) .
Step 2. (b) .
Step 3. (c) .
Step 4. (d) .
Answer: ; ; ; .
Check. Both values are near the textbook ten per cent, and they differ, as the real values do.
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