| LifeStories Presents: Dave Taylor's African Safari |
| Appendicies |
| Appendix I | Predator Biomass |
| Appendix II | Prey Biomass |
| Appendix III | Maasai and Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem |
| Appendix IV | Comparison of Average Density of Lions, Spotted hyenas & Prey in Ngorongoro and the Serengeti |
| Appendix V | Major Hunting Areas of the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem’s Larger Predators |
| Appendix VI | Food Ratios of Some African Animals |
| Appendix VII | Comparison of Serengeti-Mara Predators |
| Appendix VIII | Land Usage by Major Herbivores in the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem |
| Appendix IX | Comparison chart of Serengeti-Mara’s Birds of Prey |
| Appendix X | The Efficiency of Plants |
Metric Units
| Species | Weight (kg) |
Food Requirements (kg) |
Population of species |
Biomass of species (kg) (Col.1 x Col.3) |
Weight of Year's food/animal (kg) (Col. 2 x 365 days) |
Total Weight of Year’s Food/species (kg) (Col. 3 x Col. 5) |
| Predators | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
| Lion | 200 |
9 |
3500 |
700000 |
3285 |
11497500 |
| Leopard | 55 |
4 |
900 |
49500 |
1460 |
1314000 |
| Cheetah | 50 |
10 |
300 |
15000 |
3650 |
1095000 |
| Spotted hyena | 55 |
3 |
5000 |
275000 |
1095 |
5475000 |
| Wild Dog | 20 |
7.5 |
100 |
2000 |
2737.5 |
273750 |
| Mongoose | 3 |
0.3 |
10000 |
30000 |
109.5 |
1095000 |
| Jackal | 10 |
1 |
8000 |
80000 |
365 |
2920000 |
| Totals | 27800 |
1151500 |
12702 |
23670250 |
(All figures are in kilograms rounded to nearest 10 in the case of larger figures. Formulas used to do calculations are in brackets.)
Imperial Units
| Species | Weight lbs. |
Daily Food Requirements lbs. |
Population of species |
Biomass of species (lbs.) (Col.1 x Col.3) |
Weight of Year's food/ animal (lbs.) (Col. 2 x 365 days) |
Total Weight of Year’s Food/species (lbs.) (Col. 3 x Col. 5) |
| Predators | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
| Lion | 440 |
20 |
3 500 |
1 540 000 |
7 300 |
25 550 000 |
| Leopard | 120 |
9 |
900 |
108 000 |
3 285 |
2 956 500 |
| Cheetah | 110 |
22 |
300 |
33 000 |
8 030 |
2 409 000 |
| Spotted hyena | 120 |
7 |
5 000 |
600 000 |
2 555 |
12 775 000 |
| Wild Dog | 44 |
16 |
100 |
4 400 |
5 840 |
584 000 |
| Mongoose | 7 |
0.7 |
10 000 |
70 000 |
256 |
2 560 000 |
| Jackal | 22 |
2.2 |
8 000 |
176 000 |
803 |
6 424 000 |
| Total for all predators | 27 800 |
2 531 400 |
12702 |
53 258 500 |
(All figures are in pounds rounded to nearest 10 in the case of larger figures. Formulas used to do calculations are in brackets.)
Metric Units
| Species | Weight (kg) |
Daily Food Requirements (kg) |
Population of species |
Biomass of species (kg) (Col.1 x Col.3) |
Weight of Year's food/ animal (kg) (Col. 2 x 365 days) |
Total Weight of Year’s Food/species (kg) (Col. 3 x Col. 5) |
| Prey | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
| Wildebeest | 120 |
4 |
1 500 000 |
180 000 000 |
1 460 |
2 190 000 000 |
| Topi | 100 |
4 |
55 000 |
5 500 000 |
1 460 |
80 300 000 |
| Buffalo | 450 |
15 |
60 000 |
27 000 000 |
5 475 |
328 500 000 |
| Zebra | 200 |
7 |
250 000 |
50 000 000 |
2 555 |
638 750 000 |
| Thomson’s Gazelle | 15 |
1 |
750 000 |
11250000 |
365 |
273 750 000 |
| Grant's Gazelle | 40 |
2 |
6 000 |
240 000 |
730 |
4 380 000 |
| Dikdik | 5 |
0.5 |
10 000 |
50 000 |
182.5 |
1 825 000 |
| Giraffe | 750 |
20 |
18 000 |
13 500 000 |
7 300 |
131 400 000 |
| Elephant | 1 725 |
150 |
5 000 |
8 625 000 |
54 750 |
82 125 000 |
| Eland | 340 |
12 |
24 000 |
8 160 000 |
4 380 |
105 120 000 |
| Impala | 40 |
2 |
120 000 |
4 800 000 |
730 |
87 600 000 |
| Hippo | 1 000 |
30 |
2 500 |
2 500 000 |
10 950 |
27 375 000 |
| Waterbuck | 160 |
6 |
3 000 |
480 000 |
2 190 |
6 570 000 |
| Rhino | 900 |
25 |
20 |
18 000 |
9 125 |
182 500 |
| Kongoni | 125 |
4 |
20 000 |
2 500 000 |
1 460 |
29 200 000 |
| Totals | 2 823 520 |
314 623 000 |
64 787.5 |
3 987 077 500 |
(All figures are in kilograms rounded to nearest 10 in the case of larger figures. Formulas used to do calculations are in brackets.)
Imperial Units
| Species | Weight (lbs.) |
Daily Food Requirements (lbs.) |
Population of species |
Biomass of species (lbs.) (Col.1 x Col.3) |
Weight of Year's food/ animal (lbs.) (Col. 2 x 365 days) |
Total Weight of Year’s Food/species (lbs.) (Col. 3 x Col. 5) |
| Prey | Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
| Wildebeest | 264 |
9 |
1 500 000 |
396 000 000 |
3 285 |
4 927 500 000 |
| Topi | 220 |
9 |
55 000 |
12 100 000 |
3 285 |
180 675 000 |
| Buffalo | 990 |
33 |
60 000 |
59 400 000 |
12 045 |
722 700 000 |
| Zebra | 440 |
15 |
250 000 |
110 000 000 |
5 475 |
1 368 750 000 |
| Thomson’s Gazelle | 33 |
2.2 |
750 000 |
24 750 000 |
803 |
602 250 000 |
| Grant's Gazelle | 88 |
4.4 |
6 000 |
528 000 |
1 606 |
9 639 000 |
| Dikdik | 11 |
1 |
10 000 |
110 000 |
365 |
3 650 000 |
| Giraffe | 1650 |
44 |
18 000 |
29 700 000 |
16 060 |
289 080 000 |
| Elephant | 3800 |
330 |
5 000 |
19 000 000 |
120 450 |
602 250 000 |
| Eland | 750 |
26 |
24 000 |
18 000 000 |
9 490 |
227 760 000 |
| Impala | 88 |
4.5 |
120 000 |
10 560 000 |
1 642.5 |
197 100 000 |
| Hippo | 2200 |
66 |
2 500 |
5 500 000 |
24 090 |
60 225 000 |
| Waterbuck | 350 |
13 |
3 000 |
1 050 000 |
4 745 |
14 235 000 |
| Rhino | 1980 |
55 |
20 |
39 600 |
20 075 |
401 500 |
| Kongoni | 275 |
9 |
20 000 |
5 500 000 |
3 285 |
65 700 000 |
| Totals | 2 823 520 |
692 237 600 |
226 701.5 |
9 271 915 500 |
(All figures are in pounds rounded to nearest 10 in the case of larger figures. Formulas used to do calculations are in brackets.)
| Ecosystem Figures | Size in km2 | Size in mi2 | Maasai Allowed | Country |
| Masai Mara G.R. | 1812 |
699.6 |
no |
Kenya |
| Ranch Lands | 3000 |
1158 |
yes |
Kenya |
| Serengeti NP | 14500 |
5598.9 |
no |
Tanzania |
| Ngorongoro Crater | 14.5 |
5.6 |
yes |
Tanzania |
| Ngorongoro C.A. | 6475 |
2500 |
yes |
Tanzania |
| Total Ecosystem Area | 25801.5 |
9962.7 |
The charts show the number of each ecosystem’s predators per square unit compared with the biomass (the living weight) of prey available to those predators. Ngorongoro’s figures are fairly constant in both the dry and wet season. Note, the difference in the Serengeti’s numbers in each season.
Metric Units
| Species | Ngorongoro | Ngorongoro | Serengeti | Serengeti |
| Wet | Dry | Wet | Dry | |
| Lion | 0.4/km2 | 0.4/km2 | 0.1/km2* | 0.1/km2* |
| Spotted hyena | 1.8/km2 | 1.8/km2 | 1.1/km2 | 0.3/km2 |
| Prey biomass** | 11700 kg/km2 | 12000 kg/km2 | 20000 kg/km2 | 970 kg/km2 |
Imperial Units
| Species | Ngorongoro | Ngorongoro | Serengeti | Serengeti |
| Wet | Dry | Wet | Dry | |
| Lion | 1.034/mi2 | 1.034/mi2 | 0.26/mi2* | 0.26/mi2* |
| Spotted hyena | 4.66/mi2 | 4.66/mi2 | 2.85./mi2 | 0.78/mi2 |
| Prey biomass** | 25790 lb/mi2 | 26455 lb/mi2 | 44090 lb./mi2 | 2138 lb./mi2 |
* Lion densities are given for a specific study area in the Serengeti.
** Prey biomasses are averages.
Dots represent the frequency that a habitat is likely to be used. Colored sections indicate the habitats used.
| Swamp | Flood Plain | Grass-land | Kopje/Rocky Hills | Bush/Wooded Savanna | Dense Bush | Riverine Forest | Rivers |
| · · · · | · · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · · | · ·
· · · · · · |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · | |
· · · · · · · · |
· · · · | ||||||
| · · | · · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · |
|||
| · · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · · Wild Dogs |
· · · · · · · · | · · | ||||
| · · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · · | · · | · · · · · · · · Spotted hyena |
· · · · · · · | |||
| · · · · · · · · Crocodile |
The charts below can be used to compare the amount of food an animal requires with the needs of other animals. The ratio of an animal’s mass (weight) to its daily food requirements is also shown. The ratio of an animal’s mass (weight) is also given based on its yearly food requirements.
The formula used for the food needed daily (Column 5) is:
Rd (Ratio) = M (the mass of the food it eats daily) ÷ W (the mass of the animal)
Rd=W/Md(Column 5=column 2 ÷ column 1)
The formula used for the ratio of yearly food to body mass (or, in other words how many times greater than an animals weight is its food intake) is:
Ry (Ratio) = My (Mass of the food consumed yearly) ÷ W (mass of the animal)
Ry=My/W(Column 4 = column 3 ÷ column 1)
This information is useful in comparing the needs of the animals. A lion, for example, only requires a little over 4.5 times its own weight in kilograms of meat a year to survive. The smaller leopard requires over 7 times its weight in food. The cheetah needs ten times its own weight. This means that the lion can afford more resting time than the leopard. The cheetah must hunt longer and more often to meet its needs.
The hippopotamus’ figures show the advantage it gains by living in water. Water insulates and helps the hippo maintain its body temperature without expending as much energy. It requires a little over 1.5 times its weight to stay healthy. The black rhinoceros needs 2.5 times its weight.
Compare the differences in food requirements and ratios of a crocodile and a lion. The difference is due to the warm-blooded life-style of the mammal and the cold-blooded life-style of the reptile.
Compare the mouse and the elephant and you have to look for a different explanation as both are mammals. Mice, because they are smaller, loose heat more rapidly then elephants do and they must, therefore, eat more.
Metric Units
Species |
Weight |
Daily Food |
Year's food |
Ratio of Yearly |
Ratio of Daily |
Continent |
Role |
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
Column 5 |
Column 6 | Column 7 | |
| Lion | 200 |
9 |
3285 |
16.425 |
4.5 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Leopard | 55 |
4 |
1460 |
26.54545 |
7.272727 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Cheetah | 50 |
5 |
1825 |
36.5 |
10 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Wild Dog | 20 |
4 |
1460 |
73 |
20 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Crocodile | 200 |
2 |
730 |
3.65 |
1 |
Africa |
carnivore* |
| Elephant | 1725 |
86.25 |
31481.25 |
18.25 |
5 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Wildebeest | 120 |
4 |
1460 |
12.16667 |
3.333333 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Buffalo | 450 |
12 |
4380 |
9.733333 |
2.666667 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Zebra | 200 |
6 |
2190 |
10.95 |
3 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Grant's | 40 |
1.5 |
547.5 |
13.6875 |
3.75 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Hippopotamus | 2600 |
40 |
14600 |
5.615385 |
1.538462 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Giraffe | 2500 |
70 |
25550 |
10.22 |
2.8 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Black Rhino | 1600 |
40 |
14600 |
9.125 |
2.5 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Cape Buffalo | 700 |
20 |
7300 |
10.42857 |
2.857143 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Topi | 150 |
4 |
1460 |
9.733333 |
2.666667 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Impala | 75 |
3 |
1095 |
14.6 |
4 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Mink | 1 |
0.1 |
36.5 |
36.5 |
10 |
America |
carnivore |
| Wolf | 25 |
4 |
1460 |
58.4 |
16 |
America |
carnivore |
| Blue Heron | 3 |
0.5 |
182.5 |
60.83333 |
16.66667 |
America |
carnivore** |
| Bear | 100 |
20 |
7300 |
73 |
20 |
America |
omnivore |
| Groundhog | 3 |
0.7 |
255.5 |
85.16667 |
23.33333 |
America |
herbivore |
| Rabbit | 2 |
0.55 |
200.75 |
100.375 |
27.5 |
America |
herbivore |
| Garter snake | 0.5 |
0.05 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
America |
carnivore* |
| Mouse | 0.025 |
0.015 |
5.475 |
219 |
60 |
America |
omnivore |
Imperial Units
Species |
Weight |
Daily Food |
Year's food |
Ratio of Yearly |
Ratio of Daily |
Continent |
Role |
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
Column 3 |
Column 4 |
Column 5 |
Column 6 | Column 7 | |
| Lion | 440 |
19.8 |
7227 |
16.425 |
4.5 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Leopard | 121 |
8.8 |
3212 |
26.54545 |
7.272727 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Cheetah | 110 |
11 |
4015 |
36.5 |
10 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Wild Dog | 44 |
8.8 |
3212 |
73 |
20 |
Africa |
carnivore |
| Crocodile | 440 |
4.4 |
1606 |
3.65 |
1 |
Africa |
carnivore* |
| Elephant | 3795 |
189.75 |
69258.75 |
18.25 |
5 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Wildebeest | 264 |
8.8 |
3212 |
12.16667 |
3.333333 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Buffalo | 990 |
26.4 |
9636 |
9.733333 |
2.666667 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Zebra | 440 |
13.2 |
4818 |
10.95 |
3 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Grant's | 88 |
3.3 |
1204.5 |
13.6875 |
3.75 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Hippopotamus | 5720 |
88 |
32120 |
5.615385 |
1.538462 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Giraffe | 5500 |
154 |
56210 |
10.22 |
2.8 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Black Rhino | 3520 |
88 |
32120 |
9.125 |
2.5 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Cape Buffalo | 1540 |
44 |
16060 |
10.42857 |
2.857143 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Topi | 330 |
8.8 |
3212 |
9.733333 |
2.666667 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Impala | 165 |
6.6 |
2409 |
14.6 |
4 |
Africa |
herbivore |
| Mink | 2.2 |
0.22 |
80.3 |
36.5 |
10 |
America |
carnivore |
| Wolf | 55 |
8.8 |
3212 |
58.4 |
16 |
America |
carnivore |
| Blue Heron | 6.6 |
1.1 |
401.5 |
60.83333 |
16.66667 |
America |
carnivore** |
| Bear | 220 |
44 |
16060 |
73 |
20 |
America |
omnivore |
| Groundhog | 6.6 |
1.54 |
562.1 |
85.16667 |
23.33333 |
America |
herbivore |
| Rabbit | 4.4 |
1.21 |
441.65 |
100.375 |
27.5 |
America |
herbivore |
| Garter snake | 1.1 |
0.11 |
22 |
20 |
10 |
America |
carnivore* |
| Mouse | 0.055 |
0.033 |
12.045 |
219 |
60 |
America |
omnivore |
|
Cheetah |
Leopard |
Lion |
Spotted Hyena |
Wild Dog |
Adult Weight |
50kg, 110 lb. |
55kg, 121 lb. |
200 kg, 440 lb. |
55 kg, 121 lb. |
20 kg, 44 lb. |
Population |
300 |
900 |
3500 |
5000 |
100 |
Preferred Habitat |
plains & woodlands |
woodlands |
plains & woodlands |
plains |
plains & woodlands |
Hunts |
daytime only |
mainly at night |
mainly at night |
night and dawn |
mainly during day |
Number that |
1 |
1 |
1
to 5 |
1
to 3 |
pack |
Hunting Method |
stalk and course |
stalk and ambush |
stalk |
course |
course |
Distance from prey |
10 -70 m |
5-20m |
10-50m |
20-100 m |
50-200 m |
Top Speed |
95 km/h 70 mph |
60 km/h 37.2 mph |
50 km/h 31 mph |
65 km/h 40.3 mph |
70 km/h 43.4 mph |
Average Chase |
350 m 1148 ft. |
50 m 164 ft. |
200 m 656 ft. |
3000 m 9840 ft. |
2500 m 8200 ft. |
Succes Rate |
37-70% |
5% |
15-30% |
35% |
50-70% |
Prey Species |
Thomson’s Gazelle |
Impala |
Zebra, Buffalo |
Wildebeest, Zebra
|
Thomson’s Gazelle |
Age/Sex of Prey |
all ages, |
all ages of above, |
all |
all |
all |
Scavenges |
never |
5-10% |
10-15% |
35% |
3% |
(Based upon: Bertram, Brian C. in Serengeti Dynamics of an Ecosystem (Sinclair, A.R.E. & Norton-Griffths, M. editors))
The table below shows the areas of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem that animals use most often. Dark circles represent daytime and night use. The light circles mark the nighttime feeding locations of hippopotami. They stay in the river during the daytime. The number of dots represent the amount of time spent in one area. Colored cells represnet areas used by a species.
| Swamp | Flood Plain | Grassland | Kopje, Rocky Hills |
Bush, Wooded Savanna |
Dense Bush |
Riverine Forest |
Rivers |
| · · · · · · · · Waterbuck |
· · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · | · · · · · · · | |||
| · · · · · · · Elephant |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · |
| · · · · · · · · Bushbuck |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | ||||
· ·
· · · · · · |
|
||||||
| · · | · · · · · · · · Impala |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | ||||
| · · · · · · · · Reedbuck |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | |||||
| · · · · · · · · Kongoni |
· · · · · · · | · · | |||||
| · · · · · · · · Eland |
· · · · · · · | · · · · | |||||
| · · · · · Buffalo |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · | ||
| · · · · · · · · Grant’s Gazelle |
|||||||
| · · · · · · · · Giraffe |
· · · · | · · · | |||||
| · · · · · · · · Warthog |
· · · · · · · | · · · | · · | ||||
| · · · · · · · · Zebra |
· · · · · · · | · · | |||||
| · · · · · · · · Wildebeest |
· · · | ||||||
| · · · · · · · · Topi |
· · · · | ||||||
| · · · · · · · · Thomson’s Gazelle |
· · · · · · · | ||||||
| · · · · · · · · Black Rhinoceros |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · | ||||
| oooooo | oooooo | oooooo | oooooo | oo | · · · · · · · · Hippoptamus |
||
| · · · · · · · · Hyrax |
|||||||
| · · · · · · · ·
Dikdik |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | |||||
| · · · · · · · · Vervet Monkey |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | |||||
| · · · · · Baboon |
· · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · | · · · · · · · |
This chart compares the regions major birds of prey and allows comparisons between size of each as well as showing their food preferences.
| Species | Size | Wing span | Weight | Food | |||
| metres | inches | metres | inches | kilograms | pounds | ||
| Secretary Bird | 1.3 | 51 | 2 |
79 | 4 |
9 | insects, rodents, lizards, snakes |
| Egyptian Vulture | .7 | 28 | 1.6 |
63 | 2 |
4.4 | carrion and refuse |
| Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture | 1.1 | 43 | 2.5 |
98 | 6 |
13.2 | carrion |
| White-backed Vulture | 1 | 39 | 2.2 |
87 | 5 |
11 | carrion |
| Hooded vulture | .7 | 28 | 1.7 |
67 | 2 |
54.4 | carrion and refuse |
| Lappet-faced vulture | 1 | 39 | 2.6 |
102 | 7 |
15 | carrion |
| White-headed vulture | .8 | 31 | 2 |
79 | 4 |
9 | carrion and kills for itself |
| Black Kite | .5 | 20 | 1.3 |
51 | .8 |
1.7 | carrion, insects |
| Tawny Eagle | .7 | 28 | 1.8 |
71 | 2.3 |
5 | small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, carrion |
| Martial Eagle | .8 | 31 | 2.3 |
90 | 4.5 |
10 | gamebirds, mongoose, monitor lizards |
| Bateleur | .7 | 28 | 1.8 |
71 | 2.2 |
4.8 | small animals and birds |
| African Fish Eagle | .7 | 28 | 2.1 |
83 | 3 |
6.6 | fish |
| Augur buzzard | .5 | 20 | 1.2 |
47 | 1 |
2.2 | rodents and lizards |
| Pale chanting goshawk | .5 | 20 | 1 |
39 | .75 |
1.6 | birds, small animals |
| Pygmy Falcon | .2 | 8 | .3 |
12 | .06 |
1.3 | lizards, insects |
| Scops Owl | .2 | 8 | .4 |
16 | .06 |
1.4 | insects |
| Eagle Owl | .6 | 24 | 1.4 |
55 | 2 |
4.4 | small mammals, owls, insects, frogs |
Efficiency is the measure of how much energy a machine or plant is able to store and use. Most energy is lost in the process. For example plants and animals loose energy through heat, production of waste material and other metabolic processes. Much of the Sun’s energy that hits the Earth is simply reflected away. The best machines achieve an efficiency rating of 70%. A perfect machine would achieve an efficiency of 100% but so far no such machine exists.
The formula for efficiency is:
Efficiency = Energy Output by the machine or organism divided by the Energy Input that "fuels" the machine or organism. The resultant fraction is multiplied by 100% to convert it a percentage.
Eff = Eo/Ei X 100%
The chart below examines the amount of the sun’s energy that falls on an Iowa corn field during the 100 days growing season. These figures represent the maximum usage of energy that would only occur under ideal conditions. In the wild, the actual figures would be considerably less. Plants might retain only 1% and animals might utilize only 5-6 % of the energy in plants, or 0.05-0.06 % of the sun's orginal energy.
(All figures are approximate) 1 Calorie = 4.2 kilojoules
| Iowa Corn Field | |
| Produces Energy Output (Eo) |
138 600 000 kj/100 days |
| Receives
from Sun Energy Input (Ei) |
8 580 600 000 kj/100 days |
| Efficiency Eff = Eo/Ei X 100% |
1.62 % |
The chart below shows the approximate amount of energy that is stored in each level of a three level food chain. It assumes 2% of the Sun’s energy will be stored and that each additional Trophic Level stores 10%. These figures are maximum figures, achieved only under ideal conditions.
| Trophic Level | Niche (example) |
Energy
Available (kilojoules) |
Energy
Stored (kilojoules) |
| Trophic
Level I (Producers) |
Plants (Grass) |
69 300
000 000 (source: the sun) |
1 386 000 000 |
| Trophic
Level II (Consumers) |
Herbivore (wildebeest) |
1 386
000 000 (source: producers) |
138 600 000 |
| Trophic
Level III (Consumers) |
Carnivore (lion) |
138
600 000 (source: consumers) |
13 860 000 |
Copyright © 1999
Dave Taylor & James Cash
All rights reserved.