Energy transfer in ecosystems works in a really interesting way, but it's not very efficient.
At the bottom of this energy pyramid are producers, like plants. They use sunlight to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. This makes them the first level of the food chain.
As energy moves up to the next levels, like herbivores (the primary consumers) and carnivores (the secondary consumers), only about 10% of the energy is passed along. This is called the "10% rule."
For example, if a plant captures 1000 joules of energy, the herbivores that eat the plants will only get around 100 joules from that.
This energy loss happens for a few reasons, like the energy used for growth and heat loss in the process. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Because of this energy loss, there are fewer animals that can be supported at the higher levels. This creates a pyramid shape in food webs and chains!
Energy transfer in ecosystems works in a really interesting way, but it's not very efficient.
At the bottom of this energy pyramid are producers, like plants. They use sunlight to make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. This makes them the first level of the food chain.
As energy moves up to the next levels, like herbivores (the primary consumers) and carnivores (the secondary consumers), only about 10% of the energy is passed along. This is called the "10% rule."
For example, if a plant captures 1000 joules of energy, the herbivores that eat the plants will only get around 100 joules from that.
This energy loss happens for a few reasons, like the energy used for growth and heat loss in the process. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Because of this energy loss, there are fewer animals that can be supported at the higher levels. This creates a pyramid shape in food webs and chains!