LIFE SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -As little as 10 percent of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level; the rest is lost largely through metabolic processes as heat.

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: -Key Points. 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-4: -For example, a plant will use 90% of the energy it gets from the sun for its own growth and reproduction. When it is eaten by a consumer, only 10% of its energy will go to the animal that eats it. That consumer will use 90% of that energy and only 10% will go on to the animal that eats it.