Net Primary Production (kcal/m 2 /year) Consumer Ingestion (kcal/m 2 /year Troph
ID: 199284 • Letter: N
Question
Net Primary Production
(kcal/m2/year)
Consumer Ingestion
(kcal/m2/year
Trophic Level Transfer Efficiency (%)
Normally, humans do not function as a primary consumer (herbivore) in aquatic ecosystems. No one eats phytoplankton! But we function as carnivores when we eat fish (usually high order carnivores, sometimes apex). However, on land we regularly function as herbivores and primary carnivores (think steak and sald) when it comes to terrestrial ecosystems. Using the data above, explain these trophic level positions of humans on land versus in the sea. (Think about the relative sizes of the organism in each level!)
CommunityNet Primary Production
(kcal/m2/year)
Consumer Ingestion
(kcal/m2/year
Trophic Level Transfer Efficiency (%)
Number of Trophic Levels in Food Chain Open Ocean 500 0.1 25 7.1 Coastal Marine 8000 10.0 20 5.1 Temperate Grassland 2000 1.0 10 4.3 Tropical Forest 8000 10.1 5 3.2Explanation / Answer
Explanation :- humans function as a carnivores when they eat fish in aquatic ecosystem, but in terrestrial ecosystem humans function as herbivores and primary carnivores.
According to given data transfer of energy to higher level is more in aquatic ecosystem than the terrestrial ecosystem.