There are only 4 or 5 trophic levels in food chain of an ecosystem due to :a)Limited number of members in biotic communityb)Loss of energy at successive levelsc)Carrying capacityd)Environmental resistanceCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

only 10 % energy is transferred at successive level in food chain. Above certain no. of trophic levels there will be very less or negligible amount of energy to be transferred hence option b is correct

Answer

As we know only 10 % energy is transferred at successive  level in food chain. Above certain no. of trophic levels there will be very less or negligible amount of energy to be transferred hence option b is correct

Answer

Explanation:

The correct answer is option 'B': Loss of energy at successive levels.

Definition of Trophic Levels:
Trophic levels represent the different levels in a food chain where organisms obtain their energy by consuming other organisms. Each trophic level represents a different feeding level and has a unique position in the food chain.

Explanation of the Answer:

The reason why there are only 4 or 5 trophic levels in a food chain of an ecosystem is due to the loss of energy at successive levels. This loss of energy occurs because of several factors such as inefficiency of energy transfer and metabolic processes within the organisms.

Loss of Energy at Successive Levels:

1. Energy Flow in Ecosystem: Energy enters an ecosystem through the primary producers (plants) who convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred from one trophic level to the next as organisms consume each other.

2. Inefficiency of Energy Transfer: As energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, a significant amount of energy is lost in the form of heat due to metabolic processes. This loss of energy limits the amount of energy available to the next trophic level.

3. Energy Pyramid: The loss of energy at each trophic level can be represented by an energy pyramid. The energy available decreases as we move up the pyramid. For example, if 100 units of energy are available at the producer level, only 10 units may be transferred to the primary consumers, and only 1 unit may be transferred to the secondary consumers.

4. Efficiency of Energy Transfer: The efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is typically around 10%. This means that only a small fraction of the energy consumed by an organism is converted into biomass and available for the next trophic level.

5. Limited Energy Availability: Due to the loss of energy at each trophic level, there is limited energy available to support higher trophic levels. As a result, the number of trophic levels in a food chain is generally limited to 4 or 5.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B': Loss of energy at successive levels. This loss of energy is a major factor that limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain of an ecosystem.

Similar NEET Doubts

8. Which of the following regarding ecological pyramid is not correct? (

Does the number of species in a community really matter to the functioning of the ecosystem?

Out of five resistances of resistance R ohm each 3 are connected in parallel and are joined to the rest 2 in series find the resultant assistance (

in which ecosystem maximum producer found in per unit area?? 1) grassland ecosystem 2)pond ecosystem3) forest ecosystem 4) desert ecosystem.

How many of the following functional components of ecosystem change during ecological succession? Dominance, energy usage efficiency, species diversity, vegetation, stratification, nutrient conservation, productivity, decomposition.?

Top Courses for NEETView all

Biology Class 11

Daily Test for NEET Preparation

NEET Mock Test Series 2025

Topic-wise MCQ Tests for NEET

DPP: Daily Practice Problems for NEET

Top Courses for NEET

Top Courses for NEET

Related Content

About NEET

NEET Preparation Material

How to Prepare for NEET Exam?

NCERT Based Study Material

NEET Mock Tests

Other Popular Exams

Company