Biomass transfer- B4.1.5

how is biomass lost through respiration

1. Respiration produces ATP (energy) that muscles use for movement

2. also causes Thermal energy to transfer to the environment which means energy and biomass is lost

how is biomass lost when consuming the consumer

1. Not all the organism is eaten e.g bones or roots

2. hair and teeth cannot be digested

how is biomass lost through excretion

waste products are lost through processes like urine where urea is lost

why does the amount of energy transferred become less at each stage of the food chain

at each tropic level the amount of organism becomes less meaning less energy will become transferred e.g. a large plant biomass can only support a small herbivore biomass and then a even smaller carnivore biomass can be supported