What is the difference between a pyramid of biomass and a pyramid of numbers?
Pyramid of biomass is the dry mass (usually estimated) of the organisms whereas a pyramid of numbers represents the population of the animals in the food chain.
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Why may pyramids of numbers not be quite pyramid shaped?
If there is a larges number of parasites on another animal such as a fox.
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Why are pyramids of biomass difficult to construct?
Some organisms feed on organisms from different trophic levels and measuring dry mass of an organism is difficult as it means removing all the water from the organism which kills it.
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How is energy used and lost throughout each trophic level?
Growth, heat from respiration, egestion and excretion.
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What happens to much of this waste?
Used by decomposers to start a new food chain.
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How much energy is lost at each trophic level? And what does this mean?
Up to 90% of energy is lost. This means that there is little for the last organism of a longer food chain does not have much available to it.
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What is the equation for efficiency %?
(energy used for growth/energy input)x100
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Why may pyramids of numbers not be quite pyramid shaped?
Back
If there is a larges number of parasites on another animal such as a fox.
Card 3
Front
Why are pyramids of biomass difficult to construct?
Back
Card 4
Front
How is energy used and lost throughout each trophic level?
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