Suppose a producer takes in 5,000 units of energy. A primary consumer eats the producer. A secondary consumer eats the primary consumer. The secondary consumer retains 50 units of energy. What most likely happened to the rest of the energy?(1 point) Responses The producer released 4,950 units of the energy, leaving 50 units for the primary consumer to take in. The producer released 4,950 units of the energy, leaving 50 units for the primary consumer to take in. The primary consumer took in 5,000 units of energy and released 4,950 units, leaving 50 units for the secondary consumer to take in. The primary consumer took in 5,000 units of energy and released 4,950 units, leaving 50 units for the secondary consumer to take in. The produce and the primary consumer each released some energy and retained some energy, leaving 50 units for the secondary consumer to take in. The produce and the primary consumer each released some energy and retained some energy, leaving 50 units for the secondary consumer to take in. The secondary consumer took in 5,000 units of energy and released 4,995 units, leaving 5 units.

1 answer

The most accurate response is:

The primary consumer took in 5,000 units of energy and released 4,950 units, leaving 50 units for the secondary consumer to take in.

In this scenario, the energy transfer corresponds to the typical energy losses that occur in an ecosystem, primarily through metabolic processes and heat. The producer had 5,000 units of energy, and when consumed by the primary consumer, not all of that energy was retained; a significant amount was released, leaving the secondary consumer with the energy they could use.