The amount of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem decreases as it moves through the ecosystem. Typically, only about 10 percent of the energy at one trophic level is transferred to the next level. The remaining energy is lost through metabolic processes as heat.

Question

The amount of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem decreases as it moves through the ecosystem. Typically, only about 10 percent of the energy at one trophic level is transferred to the next level. The remaining energy is lost through metabolic processes as heat.

Suppose that, in the ecosystem modeled above, 150,000 kcal (kilocalories) of energy are contained within green plants. Assuming that the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next is exactly 10 percent, determine the following amounts of energy in the ecosystem.
kcal of energy will be transferred from green plants to rabbits.
kcal of energy will be transferred from rabbits to weasels.
kcal of energy will be transferred from weasels to eagles.

Answer 1

- From green plants to rabbits: 10% of 150,000 kcal = 15,000 kcal

- From rabbits to weasels: 10% of 15,000 kcal = 1,500 kcal
- From weasels to eagles: 10% of 1,500 kcal = 150 kcal