Question

only about 10 percent of the energy from each level of an energy pyramid is available to the trophic level above it. (the rest is used to power life processes or is lost as heat.) if the primary producers have 10,000 units of stored energy, how much energy would you expect to be transferred to first - level consumer

Explanation:

Step1: Identify energy - transfer rule

Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level.

Step2: Calculate energy for first - level consumer

If producers have 10,000 units of energy, for first - level consumer, we calculate 10% of 10,000. $10000\times0.1 = 1000$ units.

Step3: Calculate energy for second - level consumer

10% of the energy of first - level consumer is transferred. So for second - level consumer, $1000\times0.1=100$ units.

Step4: Calculate energy for third - level consumer

10% of the energy of second - level consumer is transferred. So for third - level consumer, $100\times0.1 = 10$ units.

Answer:

10 units