Why is there often more consumer biomass than producer biomass in aquatic ecosystems, compared to land ecosystems where there is more producer biomass?

1 Answer
Jul 25, 2018

The movement of biomass from one environment to another biomass.

Explanation:

In some ocean ecosystems the biomass created by producers is carried by consumers to other ecosystems

An example is the ocean floor where a large whale dies and sinks to the bottom. There are no producers in this ecosystem only consumers. The biomass from other ecosystems is transferred into the ocean ecosystems.

The ocean allows the easy movement of large amounts of biomass, ( large schools of fish, large organisms, whales, sharks, tuna. ) that create ecosystems that are primarily consumers. Also the ocean has large open sections where there is limited niches for producers.

The land does not allow for the easy transfer of biomass. Also the land has more possibilities for the growth of producers.