Refer to Figure 55.1, a diagram of a food web, for the following questions. (Arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species.)

Figure 55.1
-If this were a terrestrial food web, the combined biomass of C + D would probably be
A)greater than the biomass of A.
B)less than the biomass of H.
C)greater than the biomass of B.
D)less than the biomass of A + B.
E)less than the biomass of E.

Question

Refer to Figure 55.1, a diagram of a food web, for the following questions. (Arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species.)
  
Figure 55.1
-If this were a terrestrial food web, the combined biomass of C + D would probably be
A)greater than the biomass of A. 
B)less than the biomass of H. 
C)greater than the biomass of B. 
D)less than the biomass of A + B. 
E)less than the biomass of E.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a terrestrial food web, there is typically a decrease in biomass at each trophic level, as energy is lost through metabolic processes and heat. Therefore, the biomass of C and D (which are at the third trophic level) would likely be less than the combined biomass of A and B (which are at the second trophic level) but greater than the biomass of individual species such as H or E. Option D is the only choice that reflects this pattern.