Question

Using the image below of a marine food web, answer the following question: Which of the following correctly describes how the amount of energy changes as it flows through trophic levels?



(1 point)

When leopard seals consume birds, about 10 percent of the birds' energy is transferred to the leopard seals.

When fish consume the carnivorous plankton, about 90 percent of the plankton's energy is transferred to the fish.

Energy increases as it is transferred from squid to leopard seals, since leopard seals are more massive than squid.

Energy decreases as it is transferred from krill to birds, since krill are producers and birds are primary consumers.
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Answer 1

Correct answer: "When leopard seals consume birds, about 10 percent of the birds' energy is transferred to the leopard seals."

Explanation: Only about 10% of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next (the rest is lost as heat, waste, and used for metabolism). The other choices are incorrect (90% is wrong, energy does not increase up trophic levels, and krill are not producers).