Question

Explain why increasing the trophic level always results in a decrease in organisms

(biomass) and energy.

Answer 1

Increasing the trophic level always results in a decrease in organisms (biomass) and energy because When energy decreases, it moves up trophic levels because energy is lost as metabolic heat when the organisms from one trophic level are consumed by organisms from the next level.

Only a fraction of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. Typically the numbers and biomass of organisms decrease as one ascends the food chain.

Answer 2

With less energy at higher trophic levels, there are usually fewer organisms as well. Organisms tend to be larger in size at higher trophic levels, but their smaller numbers result in less biomass. Biomass is the total mass of organisms at a trophic level.