Energy Flow for AP Envonmental Science Student Guide
Discussion Questions
1. At any given time, a 4-acre field contains an average of 200 kg dry weight of mallow plants. For there
calculations, assume that the food chain shown below is isolated and that there are no other predators or
sources of food involved.
mallow piant painted lady butterfly phoebe - fax
Assume that the dry weight of each animal is on average as indicated below
painted lady butterfly
phoebe
49
fox
1 kg
0.19
a. Assuming that 10% of the biomass, as measured in dry weight, is transferred from one trophic level to
the next higher level, calculate how many foxes the field could support at any given time. Show your
work and include in your calculations how many phoebes and painted lady butterflies the field could
support