Question

Plants capture approximately _______________ of the sun's energy while other trophic levels capture about ____________________ of the energy available to them in their food.

• A. 1%, 10%
• B. 10%, 60%
• C. 10%, 1%
• D. 60%, 10%

Answer 1

The correct option is A

1%, 10%

Plants capture only about 1% of the solar energy that falls on them and use it for photosynthesis. The energy harnessed by the primary producers, flows in the food chain from producers to consumers to decomposers. But as energy flow from one trophic level to the next, a lot of it is dissipated as heat and only 10 percent is passed on to a higher trophic level from a lower one. For example, if 10000J of energy is falling from the sun, plants utilize only 1 percent of the 10000J i.e. they use only 100J. From this 100J which is with the producers only 10J (10 percent of 100J) is available to the next trophic level i.e. the herbivore and the trend continues.