nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnIn a food pyramid, there is typically less biomass at the top (i.e., there are very few individual tertiary consumers, whereas there are numerous individual producers). In three to five sentences, explain this phenomenon, citing evidence relating to energy flow and how plants support ecosystems.(4 points)
3 answers
In a food pyramid, there is typically less biomass at the top due to the fact that energy is lost as it moves up the trophic levels. Producers, such as plants, convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis, creating a large amount of biomass. Primary consumers, like herbivores, consume this biomass, but some energy is lost during their metabolic processes and only a portion is converted into their own biomass. Secondary consumers, which feed on primary consumers, experience further energy loss. This pattern continues as energy is transferred up the food chain, resulting in fewer tertiary consumers as energy becomes more scarce.
3 sentences
Energy flow in ecosystems follows the 10% rule, where only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next. This means that as energy moves up the food pyramid, there is less energy available to support a large population of tertiary consumers. Plants, as the primary producers, form the base of the pyramid and are able to support a larger number of individuals due to their ability to convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.