Reasons for Energy Wastage
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 19.2.6
Reasons for Inefficient Transfer of Biomass
At each trophic level in a food chain, energy is wasted. If there was no wastage, all of the energy that entered a trophic level would be used for growth. There are several reasons why this is not the reality:
Digestion
- Not all food is digested.
- Some food is stored as the waste material faeces, before being egested.
Movement
- Large quantities of glucose are used in respiration to produce energy.
- Highly mobile animals require a lot of energy to sustain their movement.
- This comes at the cost of having less energy available for growth.
Body temperature
- Warm-blooded animals need to expend energy to maintain a suitable body temperature.
Excretion
- Some material is excreted: carbon dioxide and water in respiration; urea and water in urine.
Test yourself on Reasons for Energy Wastage
Which of the following is NOT a reason for energy wastage in food chains?