Question

numeric 1 point in a prairie ecosystem, 200,000 kcal are stored in grasses. prairie dogs eat the grass and coyotes eat prairie dogs. use the 10% rule to estimate the energy available to coyotes.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify energy - transfer rule

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Step2: Calculate energy available to prairie - dogs

The grass has 200,000 kcal. Prairie - dogs (primary consumers) get 10% of the grass energy. So the energy available to prairie - dogs is $200000\times0.1 = 20000$ kcal.

Step3: Calculate energy available to coyotes

Coyotes (secondary consumers) get 10% of the prairie - dog energy. So the energy available to coyotes is $20000\times0.1=2000$ kcal.

Answer:

2000