Energy Loss in Trophic Levels Explained

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Question:

Energy is lost as it moves from one trophic level to the next because:

one trophic level does not consume the entire trophic level below it.

some ingested materials are undigested and eliminated.

some of the calories consumed drive cellular activities and do not add mass.

All of the listed responses are correct.

Answer:

All of the listed responses are correct.

Energy loss between trophic levels occurs for several reasons:

  1. One trophic level does not consume the entire trophic level below it, meaning that not all energy is transferred.
  2. Some ingested materials are undigested and eliminated, which results in energy loss.
  3. Some of the calories consumed are used for cellular activities (like respiration and metabolism) and do not contribute to growth or biomass.

Therefore, energy transfer is inefficient, and only a fraction of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level.