Why is the energy pyramid not a smooth geometric shape like a triangle but, rather, looks like narrow blocks stacked on top of wider blocks?(1 point)
Responses
A triangular pyramid would reflect a food pyramid rather than energy flow.
A triangular pyramid would reflect a food pyramid rather than energy flow.
Energy decreases at each level, and only 10% remains from the previous level.
Energy decreases at each level, and only 10% remains from the previous level.
Lower levels have far more individuals, so the shape reflects their population size.
Lower levels have far more individuals, so the shape reflects their population size.
The sizes of each shape show how much is consumed (or produced) at each level.
The sizes of each shape show how much is consumed (or produced) at each level.
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The correct answer is: Energy decreases at each level, and only 10% remains from the previous level.
The energy pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. Each trophic level receives energy from the level below it, but only a fraction of that energy is transferred up the pyramid. This is because energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes and is not transferred efficiently. As a result, the amount of energy available at each level decreases, with only approximately 10% being transferred to the next level. This decrease in energy is reflected in the shape of the energy pyramid, with narrower blocks stacked on top of wider blocks.