Not sure how to get started I need help drawing an energy flow diagram summarising the flow of energy through this ecosystem from primary producers through herbivores to carnivores.
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This question relates to the flow of energy through a fairly young (about 50 years old), temperate, deciduous forest. The amount of solar energy incident on this forest in a year is 2 × 106 kJ m−2. Gross primary production (GPP) is 43 470 kJ m−2 y−1 and net primary production (NPP) is 19 560 kJ m−2 y−1 . 14 330 kJ m−2 y−1 passes from the autotrophs to the detritivores and decomposers in the form of leaves, twigs, dead roots, etc. Herbivores (mainly caterpillars) consume 170 kJ m−2 y−1 and 120 kJ m−2 y−1 passes from the herbivores to the detritivores and decomposers in the form of faeces. A variety of different carnivores consume the available herbivores.
energy lost from this ecosystem through plant respiration.
23,910 kJ m−2 y−1
energy apparently ‘missing’?
1,430 kJ m−2 y−1
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