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

Responses

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.

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.

1 answer

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.

This is based on the principle of energy transfer in ecosystems, specifically the 10% rule, which states that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next level, while the rest is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes.