Question

Outline three reasons why the amount of energy decreases at higher trophic levels.

Understanding: Energy losses between trophic levels restrict the length of food chains and the biomass of higher trophic levels.

Answer 1

The amount of energy decreases at higher trophic levels due to energy loss through heat, incomplete digestion and excretion, and other metabolic processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are three main reasons why the amount of energy decreases at higher trophic levels:

1. Energy loss through heat: Energy is lost as heat between each trophic level due to the second law of thermodynamics. This energy loss reduces the amount of available energy for organisms at higher trophic levels.
2. Energy loss through incomplete digestion and excretion: Some energy is lost as incompletely digested food that is excreted by organisms. This further decreases the amount of energy available at higher trophic levels.
3. Energy loss to other metabolic processes: Organisms at each trophic level use energy for their own metabolic processes, such as growth and repair. This energy is not transferred to higher trophic levels, leading to a decrease in available energy.