The 10% rule is a general principle in ecology that states that only about 10% of the energy available in one trophic level (organisms at the same level in a food chain) is transferred to organisms in the next higher trophic level when they consume them. This means that as we move up the food chain, only a small fraction of the original energy that came from primary producers (like plants) gets transferred to consumers (animals that eat plants or other animals).
This concept is related to the energy pyramid, which is a graphical representation of energy flow in an ecosystem through different trophic levels. In an energy pyramid, the base represents primary producers (like plants), which capture energy from the sun through photosynthesis. The next level up consists of primary consumers, which are organisms that eat plants. Above that are secondary consumers, which eat primary consumers, and so on. As you move up the pyramid, each level represents a higher trophic level in the food chain.
Because of the 10% rule, the energy available at each level of the energy pyramid decreases by a factor of ten as you move up. This means that there is much less energy available for organisms at higher trophic levels, leading to a decrease in the number of organisms that can be supported. This is why there are generally fewer top predators in ecosystems compared to smaller animals and plants.
Overall, the 10% rule and the energy pyramid both help to illustrate the flow of energy through an ecosystem and demonstrate how energy is lost as we move up through the food chain. This also highlights the importance of energy efficiency in ecosystems and the need for maintaining a balance between the different trophic levels.
What is the 10% rule, and how does that relate to the energy pyramid?
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