Why is each level of the energy pyramid smaller than the level directly below it?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.
Because the sizes of each level show that 10% is consumed by organisms at that level.

Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.
Because about 10% of the energy is converted to heat when organisms become ill and another 10% when they die.

Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.
Because 90% of the energy is passed on to the next level to be used by the organisms there.

Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.
Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Because 10% of the energy at each level moves to the next level and some additional energy is converted to heat.

In an energy pyramid, typically only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, while the majority (about 90%) is lost, primarily as heat through metabolic processes. This is why each successive level of the pyramid is smaller than the level directly below it.