Question

If an Energy Pyramid has 10,000 units of energy on its first trophic level, how many units of energy will it use for its own needs before it passes on 10% to the next trophic level?

A. 10 units
B. 100 units
C. 1,000 units
D. 9,000 units

Answer 1

The Energy Pyramid would use 9,000 units for its own metabolic needs and energy loss as heat, leaving 10% or 1,000 units to be passed on to the next trophic level.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an Energy Pyramid has 10,000 units of energy on its first trophic level, it would use 9,000 units for its own needs before passing on the remaining 10% to the next trophic level. This is because in an ecological pyramid, approximately 90% of the energy at a given trophic level is utilized for life processes such as metabolism, growth, repair, and is also lost as heat due to metabolic functions or excreted as waste.

Trophic levels and energy transfer efficiency are crucial concepts in understanding how energy moves through an ecosystem from producers to various levels of consumers. In this case, since only 10% of energy is transferred to the next level, the correct answer is that 9,000 units of energy would be used or lost by the first trophic level, leaving 1,000 units to be passed on to the next.