Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780133923001
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 29, Problem 1AC
Summary Introduction

To discuss:

How the inefficient transfer of energy between trophic levels might apply to how many humans can be fed, and with what environmental impacts, by people eating fundamentally different diets.

Introduction:

Humans are included under omnivores that mean they act as both herbivores and carnivores. Humans act as the primary, secondary, and occasionally tertiary consumers. Humans have diverse feeding habits and they differ in their principal source of nourishment. Their dependence on plant or animal sources for their nutritional requirements is also different. Humans occupy the higher trophic level in the ecosystem, so less amount of energy is captured by the human from its lower trophic level.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Omnivores represent those living organisms that can eat both plants and animals. Various mammals including humans are omnivores as they have diverse feeding habits and they depend on different plants and animal source for their nutritional requirement.

The variation in the feeding habit of the human leads to an “advantage for the stable ecosystem and availability of resources”.

The transfer of energy between trophic level is not very efficient. Only ten percent of the stored energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level. The inefficient transfer of energy leads to the differences in the abundance of organisms at various trophic levels. The primary trophic level is more abundant in biomass than that of the higher trophic level. The differences in the abundance of biomass at various trophic level compensate for the inefficient energy transfer within the ecosystem.

Humans have diverse feeding habits which reduce their dependence on any primary source of energy and nutrients. Humans obtain their nutritional requirements from different plants and animal sources. This, in turn, will lead to a balance consumption of various resources within the ecosystem, and thus not creates any serious environmental threat.

Conclusion

Humans are omnivores and they depend on multiple sources for their nutritional requirements. Humans have diverse feeding habits which reduce their dependence on any primary source of energy and nutrients.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Find the dental formula and enter it in the following format: I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M2/3 = 42 (this is not the correct number, just the correct format) Please be aware: the upper jaw is intact (all teeth are present). The bottom jaw/mandible is not intact. The front teeth should include 6 total rectangular teeth (3 on each side) and 2 total large triangular teeth (1 on each side).
Answer i
Answer
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305389892
Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Biology
ISBN:9781305967359
Author:STARR
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Text book image
Aquaculture Science
Biology
ISBN:9781133558347
Author:Parker
Publisher:Cengage
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781337392938
Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Energy flow in ecosystem; Author: MooMooMath and Science;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jBV9vJmXZI;License: Standard youtube license