Producers

• Plants
• Algae
• Convert radiation energy to chemical energy
• Create biofuel for all organisms

Efficiency of plants

• How efficiently do plants convert sunlight into biomass (chemical energy)?
• Typical crops measure around a few percent

Consumers

• Primary Consumers
  • Herbivores
  • Insects
• Secondary, Tertiary Consumers
  • Carnivores
  • Omnivores

Energy pyramid

Biomass Pyramid

Livestock

• Cows are herbivores
• How much sunlight energy is converted into grass chemical energy?
• How much grass chemical energy is converted into beef chemical energy?
• How much sunlight energy is converted into beef chemical energy?

Wood Pellets

• Trees are harvested and processed into pellets
• Pellets are transported
• Electricity plants burn pellets, produce steam, and generate electricity

Wood Pellets

• No new carbon released
• Significant enviromental consequences similar to monocropping