Why is there less biomass at the top of the energy pyramid?
Secondary and tertiary consumers have to consume a lot more food to support themselves, so there are fewer of them.
Secondary and tertiary consumers have bigger ranges, so there are fewer of them because they each need a lot of space.
Secondary and tertiary consumers live longer, so there are fewer of them because they reproduce more slowly.
Secondary and tertiary consumers are larger, so there are fewer of them.
The correct answer is: Secondary and tertiary consumers are larger, so there are fewer of them.
As we move up the energy pyramid, the size of organisms generally increases. Secondary and tertiary consumers, such as predators and top carnivores, are often larger in size compared to primary consumers (herbivores). This means that they require more energy to sustain themselves. However, energy transfer between trophic levels is not 100% efficient, resulting in energy loss through heat and other waste products. Therefore, there is less biomass available at the top of the energy pyramid to support larger organisms. This constraint on available energy limits the population size of secondary and tertiary consumers, leading to fewer individuals compared to lower trophic levels.