A porcupine eats 3,000 J of plant material. Of this, 2,100 J are indigestible and are eliminated as feces, 800 J are used in cellular respiration, and 100 J are used for growth and reproduction. What is the approximate production efficiency of this animal?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Production efficiency is calculated as the energy used for growth and reproduction divided by the total energy consumed, minus the energy lost in feces. Here, it is (100 J / (3000 J - 2100 J)) * 100% = 3%.

A Porcupine Eats 3,000 J of Plant Material