Question

Which of the following describes the amount of organic material that is available for transfer to the next trophic level after subtracting material used for respiration?(1 point)

Primary productivity

Net Primary productivity

Biomass

Gross Primary productivity

Suppose a plant is eaten by a mouse, the mouse is consumed by a snake, and the snake is in turn consumed by a hawk. What could be assumed about the level of available organic matter in the mouse versus the plant?(1 point)

Organic matter does not transfer between the plant and the mouse.

There will be less organic matter available.

There will be more organic matter available.

They both have the same amount of organic matter.

Answer 1

1) Net Primary productivity — NPP = GPP − respiration; it's the organic material available to the next trophic level.

2) There will be less organic matter available — energy/biomass is lost at each trophic transfer (respiration, waste, inefficiencies), so higher levels have less.