Consumers generally convert an average of ten percent of the energy from their food source into their own biomass. This is called the ten percent law. The remaining ninety percent is lost or broken down in respiration. This limitation means that food chains or webs don't often reach higher than level four or five.
Full Answer
10% rule 10,000-1000-100-10When moving up a food chain (in a food web) the amount of energy Passed to higher levels is 10% meaning 90% of the energy in each level is used by the organism for body functions 10% of the energy is turned into biomass that can be consumed by the next level.
The 10% Rule means that when energy is passed in an ecosystem from one trophic level to the next, only ten percent of the energy will be passed on. A trophic level is the position of an organism in a food chain or energy pyramid. For example, let's think about Jamal and his fishing trip. Let's say that Jamal caught a bass on his trip.
Quick Revision in 5 Points 1 The food chains describe the transfer of the energy from one organism to another. 2 The energy pyramid represents the flow of energy from one trophic level to another. 3 The producers synthesize their own food and lay the foundation stone for all food chains. More items...
Different organisms occupy different positions in the food chain; depending upon their source of food and nutrition, and this is what is known as the trophic level. Producers are the organisms who synthesize their own food. The producers lay the foundation for all the food chains.