Question

If 20 J of energy is trapped at producer level, then how much energy will be available to peacock as food in the following chain?
$plant\to mice\to snake\to peacock$

• A. 0.02 J
• B. 0.002 J
• C. 0.2 J
• D. 0.0002 J

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

0.02 J

• The ten percent law is applicable to this food chain as well which is the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next.
• According to this law, during one transfer of energy from organic food from one trophic level to the next, only about ten percent of the energy from the organic matter is stored as flesh. The remaining is lost during transfer, broken down in respiration or lost to incomplete digestion by higher trophic levels.
• In this food chain, the plant absorbs 10% of solar energy and is mentioned here, that absorbs 20 J of energy. Only 10% from this 20J is available for the next level, So, the mice will have (10% of 20J) 2J of energy available. Now, from 10% from this 2J will be available to the next trophic level (0.2J) and finally, the peacock will get 10% of this 0.2J of energy which is 0.02 J.

$\underset{20J}{plant}\to \underset{2J}{mice}\to \underset{0.2J}{snake}\to \underset{0.02J}{peacock}$

Hence, the correct answer is '0.02 J'.