ecological efficiency

views updated May 18 2018

ecological efficiency The ratio between energy flows measured at different points in a food-chain, usually expressed as a percentage. Many approaches have been devised to relate different aspects, e.g. intake, assimilation, and production. Two main categories of efficiencies are studied:
a. those of energy transfer between different trophic levels; and

b. those of energy transfer within a single trophic level.

ecological efficiency

views updated May 29 2018

ecological efficiency The ratio between energy flows measured at different points in a food-chain, usually expressed as a percentage. Many approaches have been devised to relate different aspects (e.g. intake, assimilation, and production). Two main categories of efficiencies are studied: (a)those of energy transfer between different trophic levels; and(b)those of energy transfer within a single trophic level.

ecological efficiency

views updated May 17 2018

ecological efficiency (trophic level assimilation efficiency) The ratio between the energy assimilated at one trophic level and that assimilated at the immediately preceding level, usually expressed as a percentage; i.e. (A2/A1) × 100, where A1 is the lower trophic level and A2 the higher trophic level.