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, second - level, and third - level

Explanation:

Step1: Identify energy - transfer rule

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

Step2: Calculate energy to first - level consumer

If primary producers have 10,000 units of stored energy, and 10% is transferred to the first - level consumer, we use the formula: $E_1 = 10000\times0.1$.
$E_1=1000$ units.

Step3: Calculate energy to second - level consumer

The first - level consumer has 1000 units of energy. 10% of this is transferred to the second - level consumer. Using the formula: $E_2 = 1000\times0.1$.
$E_2 = 100$ units.

Answer:

100 units