- Energy efficiency in trophic levels
- Aquatic systems


[SLIDE 1]

Only 2% of incoming solar energy is captured through photosynthesis, yet this fuels all the life in a biome.

Not all energy is consumed from one trophic level to the next. Some energy is wasted, and some energy goes out through waste. More energy is required to feed carnivores that eat foods that take longer to produce.


[SLIDE 2]

Warm-blooded animals in a terrestrial ecosystem require more energy and are less efficient than cold-blooded animals in an aquatic system.

Energy flows more efficiently in aquatic systems. Since less energy is required at each tropic level, there is more energy available for the next level. Hence, aquatic systems may have more than 4 trophic levels. At the highest level, larger fish consume smaller fish. Smaller fish in turn consumer zoo (animal) plankton. Zoo plankton, in turn, consume phyto (plant) plankton.

Also, aquatic systems have the opposite type of biomass pyramid of terrestrial systems - the pyramid is inverted. This happens also because turnover is high and life spans are shorter at lower tropic levels.