Question

Select the definition of ecological efficiency.

a. A measure of the efficiency of nutrient processing, such as nitrogen, magnesium, and phosphorous.
b. A measure of how efficiently a biological community uses its environmental resources.
c. A measure of how efficiently the energy consumed by an organism is assimilated.
d. A measure of how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level.

Answer 1

Ecological efficiency is the measure of how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem, characterized by the percentage of energy retained at each level. Option d. A measure of how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The definition of ecological efficiency is a measure of how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level within an ecosystem. Ecological efficiency concerns itself with the percentage of energy that is retained and transferred between these levels after accounting for the energy lost due to respiration, metabolic heat, and other factors.

For instance, in the Silver Springs ecosystem, the trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) between primary producers and primary consumers was found to be approximately 14.8 percent, indicating that a significant portion of energy is lost in the transfer process. This concept is contrasted with net production efficiency (NPE), which measures how efficiently a trophic level converts the energy it receives into biomass.

Understanding ecological efficiency is crucial for ecological studies and in evaluating the energy dynamics and productivity within differing environments. It provides insight into the limitations of energy transfer within food webs and the potential impacts on the population size and health of organisms at various trophic levels.