Question

____________ of the energy stored as biomass in one trophic level is lost while transferring the net primary productivity to the next trophic level.

• A. 10%
• B. 20%
• C. 50%
• D. 90%

Answer 1

The correct option is D 90%

Maximum energy is in the first trophic level, where the primary producers/autotrophs trap the solar energy and convert it into useful organic molecules (biomass) which is called Gross Primary Productivity (GPP). To make this biomass, a considerable amount of energy is liberated out as respiratory losses which then leaves behind a Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and that biomass is available for consumption to the next trophic level's heterotrophs (herbivores and carnivores).

According to Lindeman's 10% law, only 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level. Secondary and tertiary consumers, omnivores and carnivores, follow in the subsequent sections of the pyramid. At each step up the food chain, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next level, while approximately 90 percent of the energy is lost as heat.