assimilation

(noun)

the biomass of the present trophic level after accounting for the energy lost due to incomplete ingestion of food, energy used for respiration, and energy lost as waste

Related Terms

Examples of assimilation in the following topics:

  • Transferring of Energy between Trophic Levels

    • Assimilation is the biomass (energy content generated per unit area) of the present trophic level after accounting for the energy lost due to incomplete ingestion of food, energy used for respiration, and energy lost as waste.

  • Nutrients from Other Sources

    • Within legume nodules, nitrogen gas from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia, which is then assimilated into amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA and RNA, as well as the important energy molecule ATP), and other cellular constituents such as vitamins, flavones, and hormones.

  • Food Chains and Food Webs

    • Only the energy that is directly assimilated into an animal's consumable mass will be transferred to the next level when that animal is eaten.