In a grassland ecosystem, the sun provides 10,000 kilocalories of energy that is captured by plants through photosynthesis. According to the 10% rule of energy transfer between trophic levels, approximately how much of this energy is available to primary consumers (herbivores)?

Question

(1 point)
Responses

10,000 kilocalories
10,000 kilocalories

1,000 kilocalories
1,000 kilocalories

100 kilocalories
100 kilocalories

10 kilocalories

Answer 1

According to the 10% rule of energy transfer between trophic levels, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is available to the next level. Since the plants (producers) capture 10,000 kilocalories of energy from the sun, the energy available to primary consumers (herbivores) would be:

10% of 10,000 kilocalories = 1,000 kilocalories.

So, the correct response is:

1,000 kilocalories.