The same food chain is found in two orchards:
apple trees → aphids → ladybirds → blue tits → sparrowhawks
The total dry biomass of apple trees is much greater in orchard P than in orchard Q. A pair of sparrowhawks is more likely to be supported in orchard P.
Which statement explains why?
Sparrowhawks in orchard P feed at a lower trophic level, so less biomass is lost before it reaches them.
More producer biomass in orchard P means more biomass can reach the sparrowhawks despite losses at each transfer.
More producer biomass in orchard P increases the percentage of biomass transferred at every consumer level.
More producer biomass in orchard P means the sparrowhawks lose less biomass through respiration and waste.
103 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 7.4 Trophic levels in an ecosystem, covering 7.4.1 Trophic levels, 7.4.2 Pyramids of biomass, and 7.4.3 Transfer of biomass. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.