Question
In a food pyramid, there is typically less biomass at the top (there are fewer individual tertiary consumers, whereas there are numerous individual producers). Why is there typically less biomass at the top of a food pyramid compared to the base?(1 point)
Responses
Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.
Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.
Because tertiary consumers are more efficient at energy transfer, allowing them to support large populations despite limited energy availability.
Because tertiary consumers are more efficient at energy transfer, allowing them to support large populations despite limited energy availability.
Because producers rely on tertiary consumers for energy, limiting the growth of producer populations at the base of the food pyramid.
Becau
Responses
Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.
Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.
Because tertiary consumers are more efficient at energy transfer, allowing them to support large populations despite limited energy availability.
Because tertiary consumers are more efficient at energy transfer, allowing them to support large populations despite limited energy availability.
Because producers rely on tertiary consumers for energy, limiting the growth of producer populations at the base of the food pyramid.
Becau
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:
**Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.**
This statement is incorrect in its explanation. In reality, the inefficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is the main reason for less biomass at the top of the food pyramid. Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next level. As a result, there are fewer tertiary consumers compared to producers because the energy available to sustain them is significantly lower.
**Because tertiary consumers store more energy than producers, leading to less energy loss and smaller populations at the top of the food pyramid.**
This statement is incorrect in its explanation. In reality, the inefficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is the main reason for less biomass at the top of the food pyramid. Typically, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next level. As a result, there are fewer tertiary consumers compared to producers because the energy available to sustain them is significantly lower.