Question

Explain energy pyramid.

Answer 1

The energy trapped per unit time and area in different levels of a food chain is shown as a graphical representation in the form of Energy Pyramid.

Since the flow of energy is always unidirectional, the pyramid of energy is always upright. The energy which is stored by the autotrophs in the form of food is available to the herbivores as food. Only 10% of this energy is stored by herbivores in their biomass and the remaining 90% is used by them in the metabolic activities. Similarly, only 10% of the energy of the lower trophic level is available for the organisms of next higher trophic level. Thus, the pyramid of energy depends only upon the energy in each trophic level.