The pyramid below shows the organisms at each trophic level in a simple ecosystem. In the pyramid, energy decreases as it moves from the lowest trophic level to the highest.
ecological pyramid
In an ecosystem, only 10% of the energy in one trophic level is transferred to the level above it. The rest of the energy is lost to the environment.
If the first trophic level (green plants) contains about 250,000 kcal of energy, how much energy is lost when energy is transferred from lizards to snakes?
A.
22.50 kcal
B.
2,250 kcal
C.
2.25 kcal
D.
225,000 kcal
B. 2,250 kcal
Explanation:
If only 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, then 90% of the energy is lost. Therefore, 90% of the energy from the lizards is lost when it is transferred to snakes.
250,000 kcal (energy in lizards) x 0.90 = 225,000 kcal
So, 225,000 kcal of energy is lost when energy is transferred from lizards to snakes.