Final answer:
The percentage of energy transferred between producers and primary consumers in the Silver Springs ecosystem is approximately 14.8%, showcasing ecological efficiency and the inherent energy loss according to the second law of thermodynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating Energy Transfer Between Producers and Primary Consumers:
The percentage of energy transferred between producers and primary consumers can be understood through the concept of ecological efficiency. The transfer of energy between these trophic levels is part of the broader study of energy flow within ecosystems.
In the Silver Springs ecosystem example, primary producers generated 20,810 kcal/m²/yr. However, a portion of this energy, specifically 13,187 kcal/m²/yr, was used for respiration or lost as heat.
The remaining energy available to the primary consumers was 7,633 kcal/m²/yr. The primary consumers in turn generated 1,103 kcal/m²/yr from this available energy.
Therefore, the trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) between producers and primary consumers is calculated with the ratio of production at the primary consumer level to the production at the primary producer level, multiplied by 100.
Using the TLTE formula, we find that the efficiency of energy transfer from producers to primary consumers in Silver Springs is approximately 14.8%.
This low percentage highlights the significant loss of energy at each step of the food chain, which aligns with the second law of thermodynamics stating that energy conversions are not completely efficient, leading to entropy in the system.