5.1.15

Reasons for Wastage

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Reasons for Inefficient Transfer of Biomass

At each trophic level in a food chain, energy is wasted. Energy is used for maintenance and growth, and it is lost in respiration and waste products.

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Waste products

  • Not all food is digested.
  • Some food is removed from the body as the waste materials urine and faeces.
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Respiration

  • Large quantities of glucose are used in respiration to produce energy.
  • Highly mobile animals require a lot of energy to sustain their movement.
  • Respiration produces waste products that are removed from the body.
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Growth

  • Energy is used to create new cells to allow organisms to grow.
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Maintenance

  • Organisms need constant maintenance and repair, which uses energy.
  • Damaged cells need to be repaired or replaced.
  • Warm-blooded animals need to expend energy to maintain a suitable body temperature.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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