Final answer:
In an ecosystem, if producers have 12,000 kCal of energy, the primary consumers will receive approximately 1,776 kCal, based on a trophic level transfer efficiency of 14.8%.
Step-by-step explanation:
If producers in an ecosystem have access to 12,000 kCal of energy, the amount of energy that will transfer to the primary consumers can be calculated using the concept of trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE). In the example of the Silver Springs ecosystem, we see that the TLTE was approximately 14.8%. Therefore, when applying this efficiency to the 12,000 kCal available to the primary producers, the primary consumers would receive roughly 1,776 kCal of energy (14.8% of 12,000 kCal).
It's important to understand that this energy transfer is governed by the second law of thermodynamics, which explains why such a significant portion of energy is lost between trophic levels, mainly as metabolic heat. As a result, the energy available for higher trophic levels decreases with each energy transfer.