Transfer Efficiency
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 7.4.5
Transfer of Biomass
Energy is wasted at each trophic level in a food chain, meaning less biomass and energy is passed on to the next organism in the food chain.
Producers
- Producers only manage to trap approximately 1% of light energy from the sun.
General rule for transfer efficiency
- A general rule for transfer efficiency between all trophic levels is that 10% of energy from a given trophic level will be available to the next trophic level.
Test yourself on Transfer Efficiency
How much energy would producers trap from 500,000 kJ of light energy, given that producers typically capture around 1% of the Sun's light energy?
Why is less biomass and energy passed on to the next organism at each stage of a food chain?
Which statements are correct about food chains?
What percentage of the Sun's light energy do producers typically trap?
What usually happens to the number of individuals at higher trophic levels in a food chain?