In a food pyramid, there is typically less biomass at the top (i.e., there are very few individual tertiary consumers, whereas there are numerous individual producers). In three to five sentences, explain this phenomenon, citing evidence relating to energy flow and how plants support ecosystems.
This is for Connexus, 7th Grade Science class.
In a food pyramid, there is typically less biomass at the top due to the inefficiency of energy transfer as it moves up each trophic level. The energy flow follows the 10% rule, meaning that only approximately 10% of the energy from one level is transferred to the next. This is because organisms at each level use energy for their own metabolic processes, limiting the amount available for the next level.
Plants, as producers, play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems by converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. They have the unique ability to capture energy from the sun and convert it into organic compounds. This energy is then passed on to primary consumers, such as herbivores, which consume the plants.
Since plants are the primary producers, they are able to produce a large amount of biomass, supporting a larger number of individuals. This allows for a higher energy transfer to occur from one trophic level to another. However, as the energy moves up the food pyramid, there is a decrease in available energy, resulting in fewer individuals at higher trophic levels, such as tertiary consumers. This pattern is supported by studies and observations of various ecosystems.