In an ecosystem, researchers investigated the energy transfer between dock plants (Rumex obtusifolius) and a herbivorous beetle species (Gastrophysa viridula) that feeds on them. Over a growing season, the following energy values were recorded:
- Net primary productivity (NPP) of the dock plants: 1.2×104 kJ m−2 yr−11.2 \times 10^4\text{ kJ m}^{-2}\text{ yr}^{-1}1.2×104 kJ m−2 yr−1
- Gross primary productivity (GPP) of the dock plants: 2.5×104 kJ m−2 yr−12.5 \times 10^4\text{ kJ m}^{-2}\text{ yr}^{-1}2.5×104 kJ m−2 yr−1
- Energy ingested by the beetle population (III): 4.0×103 kJ m−2 yr−14.0 \times 10^3\text{ kJ m}^{-2}\text{ yr}^{-1}4.0×103 kJ m−2 yr−1
- Energy lost by the beetles in faeces and urine (FFF): 2.2×103 kJ m−2 yr−12.2 \times 10^3\text{ kJ m}^{-2}\text{ yr}^{-1}2.2×103 kJ m−2 yr−1
- Energy lost by the beetles through respiration (RRR): 1.2×103 kJ m−2 yr−11.2 \times 10^3\text{ kJ m}^{-2}\text{ yr}^{-1}1.2×103 kJ m−2 yr−1
What percentage of the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of the dock plants is converted into the net productivity (biomass) of the beetle population?
