Sources of Biomass Loss (A-level Biology)
Sources of Biomass Loss
Energy Transfers Between Trophic Levels
Energy Losses
As we mentioned previously, energy transfers between trophic levels may not be complete. Small amounts of energy, or biomass, may be lost at each trophic level for the following reasons:
- Producers do not use sunlight efficiently. Plants and algae, the producers of a food chain, do not always use sunlight efficiently. Some of the sunlight may hit parts of the plant that cannot photosynthesise (ie not the leaves), it may be the wrong wavelength or even get reflected off the plant.
- Organisms must respire. Each trophic level consists of a different organism, whether predator or prey. These organisms will lose a small amount of energy through respiration, which is a key life process.
- Prey are not completely consumed. When a predator eats it’s prey, the predator may not completely consume the prey. For example, it may leave behind bones or fur, meaning that the energy from the prey has not been completely transferred.
- Prey cannot be totally digested. Even if a predator completely consumes it’s prey, parts of the prey will not be totally digested. This will be excreted as faeces.
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