Trophic levels and energy transfer in an ecosystem

• Trophic levels

  1. Produces (E.g. trees)
  2. Primary consumers - usually herbivores
  3. Secondary consumers - usually carnivores
  4. Tertiary consumers
• each level

  • biomass and energy transfer decreases

  Efficiency = energy out / energy in X 100
• Biomass - the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time
• Animals use of energy during each trophic stage

  • respiration
  • movement - to find food or escape predators
  • waste in urine or feces
  • thermoregulation 


  energy left over:

  • goes into the organisms biomass and is used for growth and repair