Biomagnifications through a Food Chain - Essay Example

Column 1: DDT Acquired

Copepod: A DDT ingested (Ppm): (2+2+2+2+3+0+4+5+5+5+2+3+2+4+3+2+4+4+5+5)/20=3.2

Minnows: DDT ingested (Ppm): (6+18+9+16+18)/5=13.4

Eels: DDT ingested (Ppm): (23+45)/2=34

Osprey: DDT ingested (Ppm): (69)/1=69

Column 2: Energy Acquired

Phytoplankton; 200Kcal, Copepod; (200*100)/20=100, Minnows; 40*5=40, Eel#1; (200/10)*0.4=8, Eel#2; 200*0.6/10=12, Osprey; (8+12)/10=2

Column 3: Total energy Acquired

Phytoplankton; 200*100=20000Kcal, Copepod; 100*20=200, Minnows; 40*5=200, Eel#1; 8*1=8, Eel#2; 12*1=12, Osprey; 2*1=2

Figure 2: DDT concentration pyramid

The osprey consumes all the chemicals consumed by all the primary producers.

The pyramid of energy flow above establishes energy distribution within the food chain.

I have learned that energy is lost at each ascending trophic levels. However, concentrations of chemicals increase through bio-accumulations and biomagnifications in increasing trophic levels. The aim of the lab report was achieved since the energy requirements and absorption in the food chain was achieved. Assumptions taken here are; consumption patterns can only be traced to the subjects in the experiment. A chemical concentration on each trophic level is only attributed to those in the control experiment. The possible source of error was in finding the exact amount of energy loss in every trophic level which was assumed to be 10%. In most research experiments, the proportion ranges from 10-15%. Performing more than five similar experiments eliminates the random assumption of the error.