Question

Consider the components of a food chain producers $\to$ herbivores $\to$ carnivores $\to$ top carnivores. Eventually what happens to all the energy passed from one element to the next?

• A. It recycles back to the producers
• B. It results in a much larger decomposer population
• C. It gets dissipated into the environment.
• D. It is recaptured by another food chain

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

It gets dissipated into the environment.

A food chain can be described as a series of energy dilutors, the energy that fails to reach the next level being dissipated as heat or movement. Most of the energy contained in the food of animal consumers is used by them during the processes of food collection, digestion, and other essential metabolic activity.

So, the correct option is 'It is dissipated into the environment.'