Question

Why is there less biomass at the top of the energy pyramid?(1 point)

Secondary and tertiary consumers are larger, so there are fewer of them.

Secondary and tertiary consumers have bigger ranges, so there are fewer of them because they each need a lot of space.

Secondary and tertiary consumers have to consume a lot more food to support themselves, so there are fewer of them.

Secondary and tertiary consumers live longer, so there are fewer of them because they reproduce more slowly.

Answer 1

Secondary and tertiary consumers have to consume a lot more food to support themselves, so there are fewer of them.

Energy is lost at each trophic transfer (roughly ~90% lost as heat/metabolism), so less energy—and therefore less biomass—is available at higher levels.