NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Because energy decreases with each trophic level, biomass – the mass of all living organisms in an ecosystem – also decreases with each stage in the food chain. This means that the mass of apex predators in an ecosystem will be much less than the mass of producers in that ecosystem.

Detailed explanation-2: -Since apex predators are at the top of the food chain, they receive less energy from the food they eat compared to those at the bottom, like primary consumers. Because of this, the populations of apex predators are usually the smallest out of the populations in the food chain.

Detailed explanation-3: -Therefore, the energy transfer from one trophic level to the next, up the food chain, is like a pyramid; wider at the base and narrower at the top. Because of this inefficiency, there is only enough food for a few top level consumers, but there is lots of food for herbivores lower down on the food chain.