Question 1: Define biomass in the context of an ecosystem.

Answer: Biomass is the total mass of living organisms in a specific area or trophic level, usually measured in grams or kilograms.

Question 2: Explain how energy decreases as it transfers from one trophic level to the next.

Answer: Energy decreases due to energy losses from metabolic processes, heat, and incomplete consumption, resulting in less biomass available at higher levels.

Question 1: Describe the main process through which biomass is transferred from plants to herbivores.

Answer: Herbivores consume plant material, transferring the biomass through digestion and assimilation.

Question 2: What is the typical percentage of biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next in a healthy ecosystem?

Answer:

Question 1: If a plant biomass is 1000 kg, and 10% of it is transferred to herbivores, what is the biomass of herbivores? Show your calculation.

Answer: Herbivore biomass = 1000 kg x 10% = 100 kg.

Question 2: A secondary consumer has a biomass of 50 kg, which is 10% of the biomass of the primary consumers. What is the biomass of the primary consumers?

Answer: Primary consumer biomass = 50 kg / 10% = 500 kg.

Question 3: In an ecosystem, the biomass at the producer level is 2000 kg, and at the tertiary consumer level is 20 kg. Calculate the overall biomass transfer efficiency from producers to tertiary consumers.

Answer: Efficiency = (20 kg / 2000 kg) x 100 = 1%.

Question 1: Design a simple experiment to measure biomass in a local pond ecosystem. Include variables to control, variables to measure, and safety precautions.

Answer: Students can collect samples of aquatic plants and animals, measure their mass using scales, control variables such as sampling time and location, measure environmental factors like light and temperature, and wear gloves and protective gear to ensure safety.

Question 2: Discuss how understanding biomass transfer can help in managing fisheries and conserving ecosystems.

Answer: Understanding biomass transfer helps determine sustainable harvesting levels, assess ecosystem health, and implement conservation strategies by understanding energy flow and biomass availability at different trophic levels.