(a) Write the percentage of (i) solar energy captured by the autotrophs and (ii) energy transferred from…
(a) Write the percentage of (i) solar energy captured by the autotrophs and (ii) energy transferred from autotrophs to the next level in a food chain.
(b) What are trophic levels ? Why do different food chains in an ecosystem not have more than four to five trophic levels ? Give reason.
Solution
(a) (i) 1%
(ii) 10% energy
(b) Every step of a food chain where transfer of energy occurs.
Since the amount and available energy keeps on becoming less as we move to higher trophic level, very little usable energy remains after four trophic levels.