The effects of energy loss between different levels in ecosystems are really important to understand.
Energy Transfer: Did you know that only about 10% of energy moves from one level of the food chain to the next? This is known as the "10% Rule." So, when plants (producers) make energy, they only pass a little bit of it on to animals that eat them (herbivores).
Limits on Populations: Because energy decreases as you move up the food chain, higher levels, like carnivores (meat-eaters), can only support a smaller number of animals. This means there are fewer of them compared to the animals lower down, like rabbits or plants.
Effect on Biodiversity: If the number of plants or animals that eat them goes down, it can throw off the whole food chain. This disrupts the balance in the ecosystem and can reduce the variety of living things (biodiversity).
For instance, think about this food chain: grass, rabbits, and foxes. If there isn’t enough grass growing, the rabbit population will drop. This will then create problems for the foxes since there won’t be enough food for them either.
The effects of energy loss between different levels in ecosystems are really important to understand.
Energy Transfer: Did you know that only about 10% of energy moves from one level of the food chain to the next? This is known as the "10% Rule." So, when plants (producers) make energy, they only pass a little bit of it on to animals that eat them (herbivores).
Limits on Populations: Because energy decreases as you move up the food chain, higher levels, like carnivores (meat-eaters), can only support a smaller number of animals. This means there are fewer of them compared to the animals lower down, like rabbits or plants.
Effect on Biodiversity: If the number of plants or animals that eat them goes down, it can throw off the whole food chain. This disrupts the balance in the ecosystem and can reduce the variety of living things (biodiversity).
For instance, think about this food chain: grass, rabbits, and foxes. If there isn’t enough grass growing, the rabbit population will drop. This will then create problems for the foxes since there won’t be enough food for them either.