Why is there a decrease in energy available at each trophic level in an energy pyramid?

Question

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1 point
Producers are more efficient at converting energy than consumers.
Top predators are more active and require more energy.
Decomposers consume a large portion of the energy at each level.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Decomposers consume a large portion of the energy at each level.

In an energy pyramid, energy decreases at each trophic level due to the inefficiency of energy transfer between levels. Generally, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, with the remaining energy being lost as heat, used in metabolic processes, and consumed by decomposers. This leads to a decrease in the total amount of energy available at higher trophic levels.