Question

"owls eat rats, mice, shrews, and small birds. assume that, over a period of time, an owl consumes 5,000 j of animal material. the owl loses 2,300 j in feces and owl pellets and uses 2,500 j for cellular respiration. what is the production efficiency of this owl?"

Answer 1

Answer: 4%

Out of 5000kcal, the owl loses 2300kcal which mean it could only process 2700kcal. Out of 2700kcal processed, 2500 kcal is used for cellular respiration so there is 200 kcal used to make body cells. The production efficiency would be: 200kcal/5000kcal= 4%