Biomass — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- The total mass of living material, a standing stock at one moment rather than a flow over time. (Life Science & Scientific Inquiry)
- The total mass of living matter at a trophic level or in an area; a rough stand-in for how much stored energy is present. (Life Science: Biology)
Where it is taught
- Energy Pyramids & Transfer Efficiency — Ecosystems, Matter & Energy, Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems — Ecosystems & Conservation Decisions, Life Science: Biology, Grade 10
In use
Pyramids can also be drawn for biomass, the total mass of living material, which usually gives a similar shape but can behave differently — in some ocean systems fast-reproducing producers support a greater mass of consumers at any one instant, so the energy pyramid and the biomass pyramid do not look the same.
Energy Pyramids & Transfer Efficiency
Standing biomass and organism count are different quantities: aquatic producers can turn over rapidly enough that a small instantaneous stock supports a larger consumer stock, and one tree can support many insects.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Taught alongside
- trophic position
- transfer efficiency
- energy pyramid
- energy budget
- autotroph
- heterotroph
- trophic level
- ten percent rule
- standing biomass