Description
Return trophicEfficiency = consumerProduction/resourceProduction, assimilationEfficiency = assimilated/ingested and productionEfficiency = consumerProduction/assimilated.
Ecological energy and nutrient efficiencies depend on which production, ingestion, assimilation or concentration basis is used. Molar nutrient ratios differ from mass ratios, and a local balance is not a complete ecosystem budget.
Return trophicEfficiency = consumerProduction/resourceProduction, assimilationEfficiency = assimilated/ingested and productionEfficiency = consumerProduction/assimilated.
When to use this tool
Use Ecological Efficiency Trophic Transfer Term when checking a supplied ecological budget or nutrient-normalization term.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter consumerProduction, resourceProduction, ingestedEnergy, assimilatedEnergy. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read trophicEfficiency, assimilationEfficiency, productionEfficiency. Use the output convention below.
Require positive resourceProduction, ingestedEnergy and assimilatedEnergy, nonnegative consumerProduction and assimilatedEnergy <= ingestedEnergy. Return trophicEfficiency = consumerProduction/resourceProduction, assimilationEfficiency = assimilated/ingested and productionEfficiency = consumerProduction/assimilated.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| consumerProduction | Consumer Production | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| resourceProduction | Resource Production | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| ingestedEnergy | Ingested Energy | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| assimilatedEnergy | Assimilated Energy | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| trophicEfficiency | Trophic Efficiency | Required. Finite number. |
| assimilationEfficiency | Assimilation Efficiency | Required. Finite number. |
| productionEfficiency | Production Efficiency | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"consumerProduction": 10,
"resourceProduction": 100,
"ingestedEnergy": 50,
"assimilatedEnergy": 25
},
"output": {
"trophicEfficiency": 0.1,
"assimilationEfficiency": 0.5,
"productionEfficiency": 0.4
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- All quantities need a common energy and period basis. Trophic and production efficiencies are not capped at one by the contract; full budget consistency is not checked.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use compatible system boundaries and appropriate ecological measurements before inferring efficiency, nutrient limitation or ecosystem condition.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Trophic Transfer Reference Base
denominator is assimilatedEnergy when useAssimilated, otherwise grossEnergy; fraction = transferredEnergy/denominator.
- Net Primary Production Gross Respiration Gap
npp = gross-autotrophic respiration; netEcosystemProduction additionally subtracts heterotrophic respiration.