The amount of available energy changes between the trophic levels found in a food chain or energy pyramid. Photos (left to right
) by Mehmet Karatay, Jens Buurgaard Nielsen, Furryscaly, and Walter Siegmund In the food chain shown, which of the following changes between trophic levels would have the highest energy conversion efficiency? a. leaf to mouse b. mouse to snake c. snake to hawk d. all changes would have the same efficiency
-Considering the fact that the amount of energy at each trophic level reduces as it moves through an ecosystem from the lowest trophic level which happens to be producers (plants). And about 10 percent of this energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level since the rest is lost largely through metabolic processes as heat.
-It means that the lower the trophic level the higher the energy obtained, for instance from producers to primary consumers, more energy is passed since it is the first passage of energy.
The correct answer is option a, that is, leaf to mouse.
In a food pyramid, the species at the lower level of the food chain directly obtain their energy from the Sun and are considered as the primary producers. This level mainly comprises the plants. The species that are on the next levels are the secondary and tertiary consumers respectively. The level of the energy conversion is the greatest at the lowest trophic level and as one moves up the level of energy conversion gets lower.
In the given choices, there is a need to determine which of the changes are at the lowest trophic levels. Of these, the option leaf to the mouse is at the lowest level since plant or leaf is a primary producer, and hence, the level of the energy conversion is the greatest in comparison to the other options.
