Q55.2-2ITD - Campbell Biology

Question

How much energy is lost by primary producers as respiration in this ecosystem? How much is lost as respiration by the insect population?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The amount of energy lost by the primary producers in the respiratory mechanism is 27,995 kcal/(m²yr), and the amount of energy lost in the respiratory mechanism by insects is 224 kcal/(m²yr).

Step 1: Gross production

In ecology, gross production refers to the total amount of substance or energy that has been produced in an ecosystem at any trophic level. It is denoted as GP and refers to the total energy that was incorporated at any trophic level.

Step 2: Net production

The term net production (abbreviated as NP) can be defined as the amount of energy that is present at any trophic level after it has utilized the incorporated gross energy for respiration. In short, net production refers to the amount of energy left after overall expenditure.

Step 3: Energy expenditure by producers and insects

The process of respiration is common to all life forms, and it requires an expenditure of energy. This energy can be calculated by subtracting the value of net production from the value of gross production. 

The amount of energy that is lost by the primary producers in the respiratory mechanism is $34580-6585=27995$ kcal/(m²yr), and the amount of energy lost in the respiratory mechanism by insects is $305-81=224$ kcal/(m²yr).