Question

7. Explain what these calculations mean for food webs (consumption, assimilation, production, and trophic level transfer efficiency) . Why does it matter how much a
predator eats, excretes, assimilates, etc.? Put this study into a greater context. This will require readings from the textbook and, most likely, the peer-reviewed scientific
literature. Make sure to cite the sources of information you use to answer this question.

Answer 1

Food web is a complex interaction of organisms from producers to all other dependent organisms. For any tropic level sun is the primary source of energy where 98% is energy lost as radiation. only 1% was utilised for photosynthesis by plants gross primary productivity (GPP-consider 100% energy) and assimilation of molecules. Plants utilise some of the food materials for metabolic activities, respiration, transpiration, organ formations(utility-10%) etc. The material which was stored after this is net primary production (NPP-remaining-90%). Herbivores depend on this energy source(90%) for their energy source. They utilise only (10%) of consumed energy for assimilation of protein, molecules etc. Respiration and excretion they will send 90% of consumed energy. From herbivores to tertiary consumers the 10% was transfered and again their is division of excretion respiration and assimilation.