Question

Energy transfer is inefficient between trophic levels because(1 point)

dead organisms and waste are recycled throughout the trophic levels.

molecules are fully digested from each trophic level.

organisms within a trophic level are fully consumed.

all organisms within a trophic level die

Answer 1

dead organisms and waste are recycled throughout the trophic levels.

Not all biomass/energy is eaten or assimilated by the next level—much is left as waste or in dead bodies and is decomposed, and a lot of assimilated energy is lost as heat during metabolism—so only a small fraction is passed on.