Question

Explain how energy limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain or web.

Answer 1

Answer: Limitation of energy

Explanation:

The energy is very limited as soon as it reaches the higher tropic level. The energy is highest at the basic level which meas at the producers.

As we move up to the next tropic levels only 10 of the energy is transferred to another level.

So, as we move up the energy keeps on decreasing so there is only 4 or 5 tropic level. Loss of energy in the form of heat and less transfer to another level limits the number of trophic level.

Answer 2

According to the 10% law, only 10% of energy will be gained by the individuals who are present at a higher trophic levels by eating the organism present at their lower trophic level.

So there would be very little energy available for the organism present at 3rd or 4th trophic level therefore tropic level is limited. This is the reason why a low number of organisms are present at higher tropic levels than lower trophic level.

Therefore decrease in the energy availability at the higher trophic level limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain of the web.