Question

Indicate the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Why is it unidirectional? Justify.

Answer 1

Energy flow in the ecosystem:

1. The energy flow in an ecosystem occurs from the lower trophic to the higher trophic level unidirectionally.
2. Organisms in an ecosystem can survive due to the energy flow.
3. Sunlight is the major primary source of energy in an ecosystem.
4. Amusingly we only receive less than 50 percent of the sun’s effective radiation on earth.
5. The flow of energy in an ecosystem follows the 10% rule, meaning only 10% of the energy is transferred to the successive trophic level and the rest is lost in the atmosphere.
6. The energy is produced by the autotrophs, as they have photosynthetic pigments to harness the sunlight into chemical energy via photosynthesis.
7. Most of the energy is lost as it moves to the successive trophic level.
8. Hence, the amount of energy available in an ecosystem gets drastically less.
9. The top consumers have the least amount of energy and the primary producers have the most energy, as the energy flows from the producers to the consumers.
10. Thus, all these reasons indicate how the flow of energy is unidirectional in an ecosystem.