Using the ten percent rule, determine how many kilocalories of energy the tertiary consumer tuna will receive.

Question

Algae
135,000 Kcal
Shrimp
Lantern Fish
Tuna
(1 point)
• 1,350 Kcal
0 13,500 Kcal
• 135 Kcal
• 135,000 Kcal

Answer 1

The ten percent rule in ecology suggests that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next trophic level.

In your case:

1. Algae provide 135,000 kcal.

2. The first consumer (likely shrimp) receives 10% of that energy:
   \[ \text{Energy for shrimp} = 135,000 , \text{kcal} \times 0.10 = 13,500 , \text{kcal} \]

3. The next consumer (lantern fish) receives 10% of the energy from the shrimp:
   \[ \text{Energy for lantern fish} = 13,500 , \text{kcal} \times 0.10 = 1,350 , \text{kcal} \]

4. Finally, the tertiary consumer (tuna) receives 10% of the energy from the lantern fish:
   \[ \text{Energy for tuna} = 1,350 , \text{kcal} \times 0.10 = 135 , \text{kcal} \]

So, according to the ten percent rule, the tuna will receive 135 kcal of energy.