Question

If producers generate 100% of the energy, what percentage of that energy is left by the time it reaches tertiary consumers?(1 point)
Responses

1%
1%

10%
10%

0.1%
0.1%

100%

Answer 1

In an ecological energy pyramid, energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, heat loss, and inefficiencies in energy transfer. Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

So, if producers generate 100% of the energy:
- Primary consumers receive about 10% of the original energy.
- Secondary consumers receive about 1% of the original energy.
- By the time it reaches tertiary consumers, it’s about 0.1% of the original energy.

Therefore, the answer is **0.1%**.