A 20-kilogram river otter (a tertiary consumer) requires the energy harnessed by about ______ kg of primary producers. Assume that 90% of the energy at each trophic level is lost as heat.Multiple Choice20,000200200,0002,000
Question
A 20-kilogram river otter (a tertiary consumer) requires the energy harnessed by about ______ kg of primary producers. Assume that 90% of the energy at each trophic level is lost as heat.Multiple Choice20,000200200,0002,000
Solution
To answer this question, we need to understand the concept of energy transfer in an ecosystem. In a food chain, energy is passed from one trophic level to the next. However, at each level, about 90% of the energy is lost, mostly as heat, and only about 10% is transferred to the next level.
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The otter is a tertiary consumer, which means it is three steps away from the primary producers (plants).
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If the otter needs 20 kg of energy, it means that the secondary consumers from which it gets its energy would need 10 times that amount to provide the otter with its required energy. This is because only 10% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next. So, the secondary consumers would need 20 kg * 10 = 200 kg of energy.
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Similarly, the primary consumers (herbivores) would need 10 times the energy of the secondary consumers. So, they would need 200 kg * 10 = 2,000 kg of energy.
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Finally, the primary producers (plants) would need 10 times the energy of the primary consumers. So, they would need 2,000 kg * 10 = 20,000 kg of energy.
So, a 20-kilogram river otter requires the energy harnessed by about 20,000 kg of primary producers.
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