In a food chain, what percentage of energy typically passes from one trophic level to the next?

In a food chain, what percentage of energy typically passes from one trophic level to the next?

• A. About 1 percent
• B. About 50 percent
• C. About 90 percent
• D. About 10 percent

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that energy moves through a food chain but is not passed along efficiently from one level to the next. Most of the energy available at a level is used by organisms for daily activities like moving, growing, and keeping body heat, or is lost in waste. That’s why only a small portion—about ten percent—gets stored in the next level to support the organisms there. For example, if a plant level has 1000 energy units, the next level might only capture around 100 units, and energy available to higher levels would continue to drop. The other options are too large or too small to realistically support the ongoing transfer of energy through multiple trophic levels. So, about 10 percent is the typical amount that passes to the next level.

The main idea is that energy moves through a food chain but is not passed along efficiently from one level to the next. Most of the energy available at a level is used by organisms for daily activities like moving, growing, and keeping body heat, or is lost in waste. That’s why only a small portion—about ten percent—gets stored in the next level to support the organisms there. For example, if a plant level has 1000 energy units, the next level might only capture around 100 units, and energy available to higher levels would continue to drop. The other options are too large or too small to realistically support the ongoing transfer of energy through multiple trophic levels. So, about 10 percent is the typical amount that passes to the next level.