explain why only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next
-pyramid of energy ->
-out of 100% of producers only 10% makes it to the primary consumer level and only 1% (out of the 100%) makes it to the secondary consumer level.
-causes of losses:
-100kj of grass energy eaten by herbivore.
-of 100kj of energy eaten by the mouse only 10kj (of the original 100kj) will be part of the mouse body and tissue (bones, eye, muscles, skin, fur etc..)
-REASON- mice has to walk around and find food. they need to respire.
-energy will be lost by respiration.
-not all 100kj of energy is available to the mice. mice cannot digest cellulose (cell wall) but cellulose contains energy- energy lost by feces.
-since 10kj is gained from mice eating 100kj of grass, 90kj of energy is lost by respiration and undigested food.
-when the owl eats the mouse only 1% of the original 100% will make it this far, so the owl gets 1kj out of 100kj (10% rule)
-losses are from respiration, producing energy for flight, movement, digestion etc.
-not all of the mouse is available to the owl. can't digest all- lost by feces.
-all organisms will die at some point- they will broken down by micro-organisms which live by the dead and decaying remains of other organisms- called decomposers.
fantastic work very well done (including those below).
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