energy pyramids and trophic levels

What is a trophic level?

A trophic level describes an organism's position in a food chain, indicating how it gets its energy.

What are the main trophic levels in an ecosystem?

1. 
   Producers (Autotrophs): Organisms that make their own food (e.g., plants, algae).
2. 
   Primary Consumers (Herbivores): Organisms that eat producers (e.g., rabbits, deer).
3. 
   Secondary Consumers (Carnivores/Omnivores): Organisms that eat primary consumers (e.g., snakes, small fish).
4. 
   Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores/Omnivores): Organisms that eat secondary consumers (e.g., eagles, sharks).

What is an energy pyramid?

An energy pyramid is a graphical model that illustrates the flow of energy from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem. It shows that the amount of available energy decreases significantly at each higher level.

How much energy is typically transferred between trophic levels?

Only about 10\% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next. The remaining 90\% is lost as heat during metabolic processes, remains unconsumed, or is excreted. This is known as the 10% Rule.