For each trophic level, the energy stored in the organism in that level is about ..... of the energy in the level below it.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

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Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]

For each trophic level, the energy stored in the organism in that level is about ____ of the energy in the level below it.

A	10%
B	30%
C	50%
D	None of the above

Explanation:

Detailed explanation-1: -On average, only about 10% of the energy stored as biomass in one trophic level-e.g., primary producers-gets stored as biomass in the next trophic level-e.g., primary consumers.

Detailed explanation-2: -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-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: -Only about 10% of the energy in one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. This is because much energy is lost as heat during transfers between trophic levels or to decomposers due to the second law of thermodynamics.

Detailed explanation-5: -The ten percent rule states that each trophic level can only give 10% of its energy to the next level. The other 90% is used to live, grow, reproduce and is lost to the environment as heat. All energy pyramids start with energy from the Sun which is transferred to the first trophic level of producers.

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