Question

How much of the net primary productivity of a terrestrial ecosystem is eaten and digested by herbivores?

• A. 1%
• B. 10%
• C. 40%
• D. 90%

Answer 1

The correct option is B

10%

According to Lindeman's 10 percent Law, only 10 percent of enrgy gets transferred from one trophic level to the next. Net primary productivity is actually the amount of energy available at a particular level after meeting the cost of respiration. When a herbivore feeds on the producers only 10 percent of the NPP is available for the herbivores. However, plants utilize 1 percent of the total solar radiations falling on them for photosynthesis.