Final answer:
Approximately 50 hawks can be supported by the given food chain based on the available biomass and energy transfer efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of hawks that can be supported by the food chain can be calculated by considering the energy flow and trophic levels in the ecosystem. In an ecological pyramid, the energy decreases as we move up the trophic levels. Assuming a limited number of energy transfers between trophic levels, we can estimate the number of hawks that can be supported.
In this case, we know that there are 25,000,000 leaves with a mass of 0.2 grams each, resulting in a total biomass of 5,000,000 grams at the producers level. To calculate the number of hawks, we need to consider the energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels. From the given information, we can estimate that only about 10% of the energy is transferred from producers to herbivores and subsequently to hawks. Therefore, the number of hawks that can be supported by the food chain would be roughly 10% of the biomass at the producers level divided by the average biomass of a hawk.
Let's assume the average biomass of a hawk is 1 kilogram (1000 grams).
Number of hawks = (10% of 5,000,000 grams) / 1000 grams
Number of hawks = 50,000 / 1000
Number of hawks = 50