ECOL 3505H Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Photosynthesis, Rubisco
17 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Total trophic level biomass is negatively associated with tropic position. Each flux between trophic levels is a c-r interaction. Influx = consumption rate*conversion efficiency dv/dt = rv-cvp dp/dt = acvp dp (cvp is consumption or biomass flux) (a is conversion efficiency and ranges from 5-20%) Flux associated with the conversion of resources to biomass. Assimilation efficiency determines proportion of ingestion not excreted (available for use) Overall conversion efficiency is ingestion (consumption rate) excretory and respiratory losses. For herbivores, up to 80% for seeds, but usually 30-40% As we move up the trophic levels, there is an energy loss at every step which results in a loss of biomass. Available energy and heat loss seem to limit the # of trophic levels in an ecosystem. The amount of energy available is what limits trophic levels, food chains and controls how much biomass there is in an environment. Gross primary production (gpp) is total assimilation of resources, c for plants.
