Question

The amount of biomass is lower at the top because energy is lost at each level. This energy is mostly lost as heat. Only a small part of the energy 10 percent actually moves up to the next level.

Producers, which are plants get energy from the sun. Produce a lot of biomass. Plants make a lot of biomass because they use energy from the sun. However when herbivores eat plants and carnivores eat herbivores most of the energy from plants and herbivores is used for life processes. Then lost. This is what happens to the energy, from producers it is lost when it moves from one level to the next. Because less energy is available higher up, fewer organisms can be supported at the top levels, which is why tertiary consumers are rare compared to many producers.


shorter

Answer 1

Biomass decreases up trophic levels because most energy is lost (mainly as heat) at each transfer—only about 10% moves to the next level. Producers (plants) capture solar energy and build most biomass; herbivores and carnivores use most energy for life processes, so less is left for higher levels, making top predators rare.