Question

between an arctic fox and lemming if the lemming contains 3000 kj of energy?
image of food web: polar bear, ringed seal, arctic fox, snow goose, lemming, arctic cod, grubs, krill, phytoplankton, grass
a. the lemming received the 3000 kj of its energy from the fox.
b. the fox will receive exactly 3000 kj of available energy from the lemming.
c. the lemming will receive less than 3000 kj of available energy from the fox.
d. the fox will receive less than 3000 kj of available energy from the lemming.

Explanation:

In a food chain, energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with only about 10% of energy being passed on (the rest is used for metabolism, lost as heat, etc.). The Arctic fox eats the lemming, so energy flows from lemming to fox. The lemming has 3000 kJ, but the fox will receive less than 3000 kJ because of energy loss during transfer.

• Option A is wrong: Lemming gets energy from grass (or its food), not the fox (fox eats lemming, not vice versa).
• Option B is wrong: Energy transfer is not 100% efficient, so fox won't get exactly 3000 kJ.
• Option C is wrong: Energy flows from lemming to fox, not fox to lemming.
• Option D is correct: Due to energy loss in the food chain, the fox receives less than 3000 kJ from the lemming.

Answer:

D. The fox will receive less than 3000 kJ of available energy from the lemming