Question

If there is 500,000 calories worth of producers in the biome, how many calories will the tertiary consumer receive?

Answer 1

The tertiary consumer will receive 500 calories.

Explanation:

Calories produced by the producer = 500,000

The flow of energy through different trophic levels is 10%

After producer comes the primary consumer followed by secondary consumer followed by tertiary consumer.

Energy reached to primary consumer = $\frac{10}{100} X 500000$

                                                               = 50000 calories

Energy reached to secondary consumer = $\frac{10}{100} X 50000$

                                                                    = 5000 calories

Energy reached to tertiary consumer = $\frac{10}{100} X 5000$

                                                              = 500 calories

Therefore, the tertiary consumer will receive 500 calories.