Question

3.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Approximately 1,003 weasels, 3,345 mice and 16,729 wheat plants per one hawk are in the ecosystem

Explanation:

The percentage of the weasel population eaten by a hawk = 30%

The percentage of the mouse population eaten by a weasel = 30%

The percentage of the wheat plants population eaten by a mice = 20%

a. One hawk needs 330 kJ of energy per day, which gives 330 kJ × 365 = 120,450 kJ per year

Let 'x' represent the number of weasels to support one hawk, we have;

0.3 × x = 120,450 kJ/year/(400 kJ) = 301.125

x = 301.125/0.3 = 1,003.75

The number of weasels required to support one hawk per year ≈ 1,003 weasels

The total weasels ≈ 1,003

ii) The number of mice needed, y = x/0.3 = 1,003.75/0.3 = 3,345.8$\overline 3$

The total mice, y ≈ 3,345 mice

iii) The number of wheat flower needed, z = y/0.2

∴ The number of wheat flower needed, z = 3,345.8$\overline 3$/0.2 ≈ 16,729.1$\overline 6$

The total wheat plants ≈ 16,729.