Question

Consider the following food chain which occurs in a forest $:$ $Grass⇢Deer⇢Lion.$ If $10000J$ of solar energy is available to the grass, how much energy would be available to the deer to transfer it to the lion ?

Answer 1

Energy flows in an ecosystem in only one direction. The energy is only converted from one to another form. The sun is the energy provider. Flow of energy is through different trophic levels, first level includes primary producers which are known as autotrophs who perform photosynthesis. Herbivores, at second level take up the energy from grazing an autotrophs. At next trophic level, carnivores are present who hunt on herbivores and get energy from them. These all are interlinked and most of this energy is used upon carrying out regular bodily functions. When these die, decomposes like fungi, bacteria break down then and give it to the soil and hence the energy flows in an ecosystem.

According to the law of food chain, only $10\%$ of energy gets transferred to next level in food chain.

Gross (Energy) $=10,000J$

Dear (Energy) $=10\%$ of $10,000=\frac{10}{100}\times 10000=1000J$

Same way,

Lion (Energy) $=\frac{10}{100}\times 1000=100J$