Question

Question 17
In the given Figure 15.1 the various trophic levels are shown in a pyramid. At which trophic level is maximum energy available?


(a) T4
(b) T2
(c) T1
(d) T3

Answer 1

Option (c) is correct.
The maximum energy is available at $T_1$. There is progressive decline in the amount of energy available from producer to higher trophic levels, that is, $T_1>T_2>T_3>T_4$ (energy).

This is because of the 10% rule in the food chain.

The 10% Rule states that when energy is passed in an ecosystem from one trophic level (a trophic level is the position of an organism in a food chain or energy pyramid) to the next, only ten percent of the energy gets passed on.