Question
energy transfer is inefficient between trophic levels because
a molecules are fully digested from each trophic level
b all organisms within a trophic level die
c organisms within a trophic level are fully consumed
d dead organisms and waste are recycled throughout the trophic levels
a molecules are fully digested from each trophic level
b all organisms within a trophic level die
c organisms within a trophic level are fully consumed
d dead organisms and waste are recycled throughout the trophic levels
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is **d) dead organisms and waste are recycled throughout the trophic levels**.
Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient primarily because only a portion of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next level. Much of the energy is lost through metabolic processes, heat, and waste, and dead organisms contribute to this inefficiency as they decompose and recycle nutrients rather than being directly consumed by the next trophic level. This recycling process means that not all the energy stored in a previous level is available for the next level.
Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient primarily because only a portion of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next level. Much of the energy is lost through metabolic processes, heat, and waste, and dead organisms contribute to this inefficiency as they decompose and recycle nutrients rather than being directly consumed by the next trophic level. This recycling process means that not all the energy stored in a previous level is available for the next level.