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Difficulty: MediumEcology and Environment

In a grassland biome, vegetation captures sunlight and generates 10000 kcal10{}000\text{ kcal} of available energy. Approximately how much of this energy is incorporated into the bodies of the herbivorous rodents that feed directly on these plants?

  1. A
    10000 kcal10{}000\text{ kcal}
  2. 1000 kcal1{}000\text{ kcal}Answer
  3. C
    100 kcal100\text{ kcal}
  4. D
    10 kcal10\text{ kcal}

Answer

1000 kcal1{}000\text{ kcal}
In ecological energy pyramids, approximately 10% of the energy stored as organic biomass in one trophic tier is converted into biomass in the subsequent tier. The remaining 90% is expended during cellular respiration, daily physiological functions, or lost as heat. Therefore, consuming vegetation with 10000 kcal10{}000\text{ kcal} of available energy results in approximately 1000 kcal1{}000\text{ kcal} of stored energy in the herbivore population (10000 kcal×0.10=1000 kcal10{}000\text{ kcal} \times 0.10 = 1{}000\text{ kcal}).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the trophic relationship and standard energy transfer efficiency.
Herbivorous rodents consume plant vegetation directly, moving energy up by one trophic level with roughly 10% transfer efficiency.
According to the ten percent rule of ecological energy flow, approximately 90% of energy is lost as heat and metabolic maintenance at each tier.
2
Calculate 10% of the initial energy produced by the vegetation.
10000 kcal×0.10=1000 kcal10{}000\text{ kcal} \times 0.10 = 1{}000\text{ kcal}
Multiplying the base producer energy by the 10% transfer rate gives the amount incorporated into the herbivore tier.

Key Concept

Trophic Energy Transfer and the Ten Percent Law
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Ecology and Environment

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