Pyramid of Biomass

What’s the trophic level of an organism?

The number of steps it is from the start of its food chain.

What do pyramids of biomass represent?

The relative amount of biomass at each trophic level of a food chain.

What is biomass?

The amount of living or recently dead biological matter in an area.

How is biomass transferred?

From each trophic level to the level above it in the food chain.

How much do producers transfer?

About 1% of the incident light energy used for photosynthesis to produce biomass.

How much of biomass from each trophic level is transferred to the level above it?

Approximately 10%

What is the loss of biomass moving up the food chain due to?

Use of life processes, not all of the matter eaten is digested, some absorbed material’s lost as waste, energy’s used in movement and to keep animals warm.