What percent of the sun energy does a killer whale get

1 answer

It is impossible to determine the exact percentage of sun energy that a killer whale (also known as an orca) receives. Killer whales are top predators in the marine food chain and obtain energy indirectly from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. Phytoplankton, microscopic plants that carry out photosynthesis, form the base of the marine food web and directly convert sun energy into organic matter. This energy is then passed on to zooplankton, small fish, and eventually to killer whales as they consume these organisms.

However, it is important to note that the energy transfer between trophic levels in the food chain is not efficient. Only a fraction of the energy is transferred from one level to the next, with the majority being lost as heat or used for metabolic activities. Therefore, the percentage of sun energy that ultimately reaches the killer whale would be very small.