AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Energy decreases as it moves up trophic levels because energy is lost as metabolic heat when the organisms from one trophic level are consumed by organisms from the next level.

Detailed explanation-2: -As you move up the pyramid, through the trophic levels to primary, secondary and tertiary consumers, the amount of energy decreases and the levels become smaller. While energy can not be created or destroyed is it released as heat within each level. Approximately only 10% of energy is passed from one level to the next.

Detailed explanation-3: -At each step up the food chain, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next level, while approximately 90 percent of the energy is lost as heat.

Detailed explanation-4: -How does energy move between trophic levels? Energy can pass from one trophic level to the next when organic molecules from an organism’s body are eaten by another organism.

Detailed explanation-5: -At the bottom of the pyramid are the starch-containing foods or carbohydrates. These provide the foundation for our diet and should be present in every meal. It is from the carbohydrates that the body obtains the energy it needs to keep going during the day.