The food pyramid models the flow of energy through an ecosystem, illustrating that there is less biomass at higher trophic levels due to energy loss at each stage of the food chain. According to the 10% rule, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next; the rest is lost primarily as heat through metabolic processes. Producers, such as plants, capture sunlight and convert it into usable energy through photosynthesis, creating a vast amount of biomass that supports multiple levels of consumers. This abundance of producers not only provides food for herbivores but also plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity.
Question
In 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)
1 answer