Question

In the desert food web shown below, which of the following best describes the transfer of energy between the desert tortoise and the coyote?

A) About 90 percent of the desert tortoise's energy transfers to the coyote.

B) About 10 percent of the coyote's energy transfers to the desert tortoise.

C) About 10 percent of the desert tortoise's energy transfers to the coyote.

D) About 90 percent of the coyote's energy transfers to the desert tortoise.

Answer 1

well from what you've said, they'll end up with the same amount of energy from one another at the end as the coyote takes 90% from the desert tortoise and then the desert tortoise is taking 10% of the coyotes energy. At this point we would assume that the coyote ends up with 80% as he takes 90 but the tortoise takes back 10, however we are then told that the tortoise takes 90% of the coyote and the coyote takes 10% so it's exactly the same. Therefore, I can infer from this that the energy transfer would stay the same between the coyote and the desert tortoise. Hope this helps x

Answer 2

C) About 10 percent of the desert tortoise's energy transfers to the coyote.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given food web, the coyote is the top consumer that feeds on desert tortoise and kangaroo rat. Only 10% of the energy of one trophic level is passed to the next trophic level and 90 % of the energy is lost in respiration.

Hence, only 10% energy of desert tortoise would be delivered to coyote and rest would be lost during respiration.