Question

A food chain consists of phytoplankton, zooplankton, shrimp, and herring. If the bacteria produces 173,000 kJm-2 year-1 of energy, the plankton contain 28,000 kJm-2 year-1 of energy, the shrimp contain 3,100 kJm-2 year-1 of energy, and the herring contain 150 kJm-2 year-1 of energy then what is the trophic efficiency between the primary and secondary consumers?

Answer 1

Answer:

The trophic efficiency between the primary and the secondary produces is 18.064 %

Explanation:

The trophic efficiency is the ratio or the fraction obtained by dividing the energy used for growth at a trophc level by the level of energy supplied at the the next lower trophic level.

The given parameters are;

The energy produced by the bacteria (primary consumer) = 173,000 kJ/(m²/y)

The energy contained in the plankton = 28,000 kJ/(m²/y)

The energy contained in the shrimp = 3,100 kJ/(m²/y)

The energy contained in the herring = 150 kJ/(m²/y)

Therefore, we have;

Energy supplied at the primary trophic level = 173,000 kJ/(m²/y)

The energy used for growth (contained) in the secondary trophic level (secondary consumer)  = 28,000 + 3,100 + 150 =  31,250 kJ/(m²/y)

$Trophic \ efficiency = \dfrac{Energy \ used \ for\ growth\ (Secondary\ consumer) }{ Energy \ Supplied \ (Primary \ consumer) } \times 100$

$Trophic \ efficiency = \dfrac{31,250}{ 173,000} \times 100 = 18.064 \ \%$