Question

question 1 - 3
if the producer population in an ecosystem were reduced by 50%, what would be the most likely impact on tertiary consumers?
the energy available to tertiary consumers would decrease over time.
energy levels at higher trophic levels would remain the same because energy is recycled.
tertiary consumers would gain even more energy as other species decline.
tertiary consumers would not be affected since they do not eat producers.

Explanation:

Producers are the base of the food - chain and provide energy for all other trophic levels. A 50% reduction in producer population means less energy is available in the ecosystem. As energy flows through trophic levels, a reduction at the producer level will ultimately lead to less energy available for tertiary consumers over time. Energy is not recycled in the same way as matter in an ecosystem, and tertiary consumers rely on the energy transfer through the food - chain which starts with producers.

Answer:

The energy available to tertiary consumers would decrease over time.