A population of otters (tertiary consumers) lives in an ecosystem in which mercury is at a concentration of 0.004 g/kg in primary producers. What is the approximate concentration of mercury in otters? Assume that 90% of the energy at each trophic level is lost as heat, and that no mercury is excreted or breaks down through the food web.Multiple Choice0.04 g/kg4 g/kg0.4 g/kg0.0004 g/kg
Question
A population of otters (tertiary consumers) lives in an ecosystem in which mercury is at a concentration of 0.004 g/kg in primary producers. What is the approximate concentration of mercury in otters? Assume that 90% of the energy at each trophic level is lost as heat, and that no mercury is excreted or breaks down through the food web.Multiple Choice0.04 g/kg4 g/kg0.4 g/kg0.0004 g/kg
Solution
To answer this question, we need to understand the concept of biomagnification. Biomagnification is the process in an ecosystem where the concentration of a substance, like mercury, increases in higher levels of the food chain.
In this case, the otters are tertiary consumers. This means they are three steps removed from the primary producers in the food chain.
The concentration of mercury in each successive trophic level is 10 times greater than the previous level because 90% of the energy (and thus, the mercury) is lost as heat.
So, if we start with a concentration of 0.004 g/kg in the primary producers (first level), the concentration in the primary consumers (second level) would be 0.04 g/kg.
The concentration in the secondary consumers (third level) would be 0.4 g/kg.
Finally, the concentration in the tertiary consumers, the otters, (fourth level) would be 4 g/kg.
So, the answer is 4 g/kg.
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