EVERYDAY SCIENCE

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: -As producers are consumed, roughly 10% of the energy at the producer level is passed on to the next level (primary consumers). The other 90% is used for life processes, such as photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction, digestion; and ultimately transformed into heat energy before the organism is ever consumed.

Detailed explanation-3: -So if 10000 joules of energy is available to the producer then 10% of 10000 will be transferred to primary consumer i.e. 1000 joules. Again to the secondary consumer 10% of 1000 will be transferred i.e. 100 joules. The energy available to the secondary consumer is 100 joules to transfer to the tertiary consumer.

Detailed explanation-4: -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-5: -When a consumer eats a producer, 10 percent of the producer’s energy is passed on to the consumer trophic level. What happens to the other 90 percent? It is used for cell processes or released as heat.