EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -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-2: -The number of organisms at each level decreases relative to the level below because there is less energy available to support those organisms. The top level of an energy pyramid has the fewest organisms because it has the least amount of energy.

Detailed explanation-3: -The different feeding positions in a food chain or web are called trophic levels. Generally, there are no more than four trophic levels because energy and biomass decrease from lower to higher levels.

Detailed explanation-4: -Energy is lost from the food chain as heat during respiration, due to incomplete digestion, and through excretion of the waste products of metabolism.

Detailed explanation-5: -Identify and describe the levels of the pyramid: producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers. Understand the role of decomposers. Know that about 10% of the energy from each level reaches the one above.