If producers generate 100% of the energy, what percentage of that energy is left by the time it reaches tertiary consumers?
Responses
10%
0.1%
1%
100%
Producers generate the energy at the primary trophic level, which is then transferred to primary consumers (herbivores) at the next trophic level. From there, the energy is transferred to secondary consumers (carnivores) at the third trophic level. Finally, the energy is transferred to tertiary consumers (top carnivores) at the fourth trophic level.
As energy moves up the food chain, it is lost through various processes such as respiration, digestion, and heat loss. The efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is generally around 10%, meaning that only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is available to the next trophic level. Therefore, if producers generate 100% of the energy, only 10% of that energy would be left by the time it reaches tertiary consumers.
So, the correct response is 10%.