Question

1. Why does only a part of energy gets transferred from one trophic level to the next higher?
2. Where does the rest of the energy go?
3. Can the lost energy be regained?

Answer 1

Part A:

1. The energy is known to flow across the trophic levels from lower levels to higher. The energy in this transfer is not 100%. It follows the 10% percent rule.
2. 10% rule states that “Only 10% of the total energy present at level is transferred to the higher levels.”

Hence, total energy at a level doesn't get transferred from one trophic level to the next higher.

Part B:

1. The energy flow from lower levels to higher levels is governed by the 10% rule. Around 90% of the energy is lost to the surroundings.
2. This lost energy is called as community heat, it is transferred to the surroundings from the organism.

Hence, 90% of the energy that is not transferred to the next higher trophic level is lost to the surroundings.

Part C:

1. 90% of the energy is lost to the surroundings as per the 10% rule of energy transfer.
2. The lost energy is in form of the heat which is neither transferable nor usable.

Hence, the energy lost to the surrounding cannot be regained, transferred, or used.