Community Level Systems: Biomass Transfer

Biomass Transfer and Trophic Levels

The term ‘biomass’ refers to the total mass of living or recently living organisms within a specified area, measured at a given point in time.
The flow of biomass from one organism to another can be represented in a food chain, which visually depicts the sequence of organisms through which energy and nutrients are transferred.
Organisms in a food chain are organized into trophic levels based on their position and role. The first trophic level includes autotrophs, the second trophic level includes herbivores, and the following trophic levels include different types of carnivores and omnivores.

Pyramids of Biomass

A pyramid of biomass is a graphical representation that depicts the quantity of biomass in each trophic level of an ecosystem.
It characteristically forms a pyramid shape due to the fact that biomass generally decreases from the producers at the bottom, through herbivores, to predators at the top.
Biomass pyramids provide insights on energy flow and nutrient cycling in communities, revealing imbalances in ecosystem health or productivity.

Transfer of Biomass

The transfer of biomass is not completely efficient, with substantial energy lost at each trophic level. This inefficiency is primarily due to the second law of thermodynamics, where every energy transfer results in some loss of energy through entropy.
Biomass can be reduced between trophic levels due to various factors, such as respiration, egestion, excretion, and death and decomposition.
Typically, only about 10% of the energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level.

Human Impact on Biomass Transfer

Human activities such as overfishing, deforestation, and agriculture can greatly affect the flow of biomass within ecosystems, often disrupting the balance and leading to significant biodiversity loss.
The use of artificial fertilisers can artificially manipulate biomass transfer, improving crop yields but also potentially causing environmental damage, such as pollution and eutrophication.
Sustainable management of ecosystems is important to maintain the balance of biomass transfer and to ensure the long-term sustainability of natural communities.