Question

using the 10% rule when studying trophic pyramids, if the primary consumers obtain 100 joules of energy from the autotrophs, how much energy is then passed on to the carnivores? 0.1 joules 100 joules 10 joule

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the 10% energy - transfer rule

The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next. Primary consumers are the second trophic level and carnivores (secondary consumers) are the third trophic level.

Step2: Calculate the energy passed to carnivores

If primary consumers have 100 Joules of energy, and 10% of this energy is passed to the next trophic level (carnivores), we calculate 10% of 100. The formula for finding a percentage $p$ of a number $n$ is $n\times\frac{p}{100}$. Here, $n = 100$ and $p=10$, so $100\times\frac{10}{100}=10$ Joules.

Answer:

10 Joules