Why is each level of the energy pyramid smaller than the level directly below it? (1 point)
• Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.
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 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.
The correct answer is: 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.
In an energy pyramid, each level represents a trophic level or a step in the food chain. The energy available at each level decreases as it moves up the pyramid. This is due to the fact that energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes, and organisms at each level use some of the energy for their own life processes. Approximately 90% of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level, while only about 10% is available for consumption by organisms at that level.
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 directly below it, we need to understand the concept of energy transfer in ecosystems.
In an ecosystem, energy flows through different levels, starting with the producers (such as plants) at the bottom of the pyramid, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores), and so on. Each level represents a feeding level or trophic level in the food chain.
As energy moves up the food chain, a significant portion of it is lost at each level. This loss is due to metabolic processes, heat production, movement, and other factors. Only a fraction of the energy from each level is transferred to the next level.
Typically, around 10% of the energy that is available at one trophic level is transferred to the next level. This means that 90% of the energy is lost at each level and only 10% is passed on. This loss of energy explains why each level of the energy pyramid is smaller than the level below it.
Therefore, the correct answer is: Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.