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 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 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 producers rely on tertiary consumers for energy, limiting the growth of producer populations at the base of the food pyramid. Because producers rely on tertiary consumers for energy, limiting the growth of producer populations at the base of the food pyramid. Because energy is lost at each level of the food chain, less energy is available to support tertiary consumers, resulting in fewer individuals at the top.

1 answer

The correct response is: Because energy is lost at each level of the food chain, less energy is available to support tertiary consumers, resulting in fewer individuals at the top.

This statement reflects the concept of energy transfer efficiency in ecosystems, where energy diminishes at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, heat loss, and other factors. As a result, there is less energy available to support higher trophic levels, leading to a decrease in biomass and population size among tertiary consumers compared to producers at the base of the food pyramid.