Why is each level of the energy pyramid smaller than the level directly below it?(1 point)
Responses
Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.
Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.
Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.
Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.
Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.
Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.
Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
The correct answer is: Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
To understand why each level of the energy pyramid is smaller than the level below it, we need to understand the concept of energy transfer in ecosystems. The energy pyramid represents the flow of energy in an ecosystem, with each level representing a different trophic level or feeding level.
Energy flow in an ecosystem starts with producers, such as plants, which convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy is transferred to herbivores, the primary consumers, when they eat the plants. The herbivores are then consumed by secondary consumers, which are often carnivores. This transfer of energy continues through each trophic level.
However, as energy is transferred from one level to the next, some of it is lost as heat due to metabolic processes in organisms. This loss occurs because no organism is able to convert all of the energy it consumes into growth or activity. Additionally, there are other inefficiencies in energy transfer, such as energy being used for movement or lost as waste.
On average, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level. This means that each level of the energy pyramid contains only about 10% of the energy available at the level below it. As a result, each level becomes smaller as you move up the pyramid, reflecting the decreasing amount of available energy.
In summary, the reason each level of the energy pyramid is smaller than the level below it is because approximately 90% of energy is lost as heat or used by organisms at each trophic level, leaving only about 10% to be passed on to the next level.