Question

Question

A student wants to build a diagram that shows the biomass data for each trophic level in a terrestrial ecosystem. Which statement accurately reflects how biomass is distributed from producers to tertiary consumers?(1 point)
Responses

Tertiary consumers have the greatest biomass because they are at the top of the food web.
Tertiary consumers have the greatest biomass because they are at the top of the food web. - no response given

Producers have the highest biomass, then biomass decreases at each level.
Producers have the highest biomass, then biomass decreases at each level. - no response given

Biomass is equally distributed across all trophic levels because of efficient transfer of matter and energy.
Biomass is equally distributed across all trophic levels because of efficient transfer of matter and energy. - no response given

Primary consumers outnumber producers because they have access to several food sources.

Answer 1

The statement that accurately reflects how biomass is distributed from producers to tertiary consumers in a terrestrial ecosystem is:

Producers have the highest biomass, then biomass decreases at each level.

In most ecosystems, biomass decreases as you move up the trophic levels from producers to primary consumers to secondary consumers and finally to tertiary consumers. This is due to the inefficiencies in energy transfer at each trophic level, often represented by the rule of thumb known as the 10% Rule, where only about 10% of the energy from one level is transferred to the next.