Revise Energy Flow in Food Chains

Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Energy Loss in Food Chains (Questions)

In this GCSE Biology quiz, you will explore how and why energy is lost at each stage of food chains, from producers to top predators.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some energy is used for growth and repair, but much is spent on activities such as muscle contraction, active transport, and maintaining body temperature.

In GCSE Biology, energy loss in food chains explains why there are fewer organisms at higher trophic levels. You will revise how energy transfers, losses and efficiency are calculated.

Key Terms

Food chain: A diagram that shows how energy and biomass pass from one organism to the next as each one eats another.
Trophic level: The position of an organism in a food chain, such as producer, primary consumer or secondary consumer.
Biomass: The total mass of living material in an organism or level of a food chain, often measured per unit area.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Why is energy lost at each stage of a food chain GCSE?

At each trophic level, much of the energy is lost as heat during respiration, movement and maintaining body temperature. Some biomass is not eaten or is lost in waste, so it cannot be passed on.

How do you calculate efficiency of energy transfer in GCSE Biology?

Efficiency of energy transfer is calculated using: efficiency (%) = (energy transferred to the next level ÷ energy available at the previous level) × 100. Both energy values must be in the same units.

Why do food chains usually have only a few trophic levels?

So much energy is lost at each stage that very little remains to support organisms at high trophic levels. This limits food chains to around four or five trophic levels.

Try These Related Quizzes

Energy for all food chains comes from what source?

[ ]	Sun
[ ]	Moon
[ ]	Producer
[ ]	Consumer

The producer is usually what type of organism?

[ ]	A fungus
[ ]	An animal
[ ]	A plant
[ ]	A bacterium

Which of the following statements about energy is true?

[ ]	Energy is only ever created
[ ]	Energy is only ever destroyed
[ ]	Energy is only ever converted
[ ]	Energy is only ever killed

Which of the following statements about algae in a food chain is true?

[ ]	Algae are always the primary consumer
[ ]	Algae are always the secondary consumer
[ ]	Algae are always the producer
[ ]	Algae are always the predator

How is most energy in food chains lost?

[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to death and decay
[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to respiration and excretion
[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to reproduction and breathing
[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to reflection and transmission

Energy in which form is lost to the surroundings in a food chain?

[ ]	Light
[ ]	Dark
[ ]	Heat
[ ]	Water

What happens to the biomass at each successive stage in a food chain?

[ ]	It is increased
[ ]	It remains the same
[ ]	It is reduced
[ ]	It is all lost

Which of the following is not a way in which energy is lost from animals in a food chain?

[ ]	Movement such as flying or running
[ ]	Inedible parts of the prey
[ ]	Urine and faeces
[ ]	Photosynthesis

Which process in green plants traps sunlight energy?

[ ]	Photosynthesis
[ ]	Reproduction
[ ]	Respiration
[ ]	Excretion

10.

Which type of organism is usually found at the top of a pyramid of biomass?

[ ]	Herbivore
[ ]	Predator
[ ]	Producer
[ ]	Primary consumer

Biology Quiz - Unit 1 - Energy Loss in Food Chains (Answers)

Energy for all food chains comes from what source?

[x]	Sun
[ ]	Moon
[ ]	Producer
[ ]	Consumer

All energy for living things comes from the Sun. Plants trap this energy and use it to make food which provides energy for animals

The producer is usually what type of organism?

[ ]	A fungus
[ ]	An animal
[x]	A plant
[ ]	A bacterium

Chlorophyll in plant cells uses the energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. This process, photosynthesis, also releases oxygen into the atmosphere

Which of the following statements about energy is true?

[ ]	Energy is only ever created
[ ]	Energy is only ever destroyed
[x]	Energy is only ever converted
[ ]	Energy is only ever killed

This is the Conservation of Energy principle. All of the original energy of a food chain is still there but some of it has been spread out into the environment and is no longer available to the organisms of the food chain

Which of the following statements about algae in a food chain is true?

[ ]	Algae are always the primary consumer
[ ]	Algae are always the secondary consumer
[x]	Algae are always the producer
[ ]	Algae are always the predator

Algae are found almost everywhere on Earth and are the producer for many marine and freshwater food chains. It is said that 70% of the oxygen in the atmosphere is produced by algae

How is most energy in food chains lost?

[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to death and decay
[x]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to respiration and excretion
[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to reproduction and breathing
[ ]	Energy in food chains is mainly lost due to reflection and transmission

The energy and biomass lost from a food chain by death and decay is recycled by the decomposers

Energy in which form is lost to the surroundings in a food chain?

[ ]	Light
[ ]	Dark
[x]	Heat
[ ]	Water

Ultimately, all energy conversions result in heat

What happens to the biomass at each successive stage in a food chain?

[ ]	It is increased
[ ]	It remains the same
[x]	It is reduced
[ ]	It is all lost

Not all of the biomass eaten as food remains in the consumer's body. Some is lost through excretion and respiration

Which of the following is not a way in which energy is lost from animals in a food chain?

[ ]	Movement such as flying or running
[ ]	Inedible parts of the prey
[ ]	Urine and faeces
[x]	Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis occurs only in plants