CLOSE REVIEWHow does the energy transfer through trophic levels influence the population sizes of organisms at different levels?
(Student response here)
Did you like this question?
Instructor solution
Energy transfer through trophic levels influences population sizes by limiting the amount of energy available at each successive level. Because only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next, higher trophic levels have less energy available to support large populations. As a result, there are typically more producers than primary consumers, more primary consumers than secondary consumers, and so on. This creates a pyramid-shaped population structure.
Was this helpful?
Think you've got it?
Why are there typically fewer secondary consumers than primary consumers in an ecosystem?
- A.
Because primary consumers are more efficient at obtaining energy.
- B.
Because secondary consumers are less important to the ecosystem.
- C.
Because only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, limiting the energy available to support large populations at higher levels.
- D.
Because secondary consumers reproduce more slowly.
Was this helpful?
You may exit out of this review and return later without penalty.