Why is each level of the energy pyramid smaller than the level directly below it?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.

Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.
Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.

Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.
Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.

Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.

This explanation captures the concept of energy transfer in an ecosystem, where only about 10% of energy from one trophic level is available to the next due to loss in metabolic processes and heat.