Choose the correctly matched pair:a)10% Rule - Energy transferred to t...
- Option A: 10% Rule - Energy transferred to the next trophic level: Explanation: The 10% Rule indicates that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level. The rest is lost as heat, used in metabolism, or remains unassimilated.
- Option B: Biological Magnification - Decrease in chemical concentration at higher trophic levels - Incorrect: Biological Magnification refers to the increase in concentration of harmful chemicals at higher trophic levels, not a decrease.
- Option C: Food Web - Linear sequence of organisms - Incorrect: A food web represents a complex network of feeding relationships, not a linear sequence. A linear sequence is referred to as a food chain.
- Option D: Unidirectional Energy Flow - Energy flows back to autotrophs - Incorrect: Unidirectional Energy Flow means that energy flows in one direction—from the sun to autotrophs (producers) to various levels of consumers and does not flow back.
View all questions of this test
Choose the correctly matched pair:a)10% Rule - Energy transferred to t...
Understanding the 10% Rule
The 10% Rule is a fundamental concept in ecology that describes the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem.
Energy Transfer Between Trophic Levels
- In a typical food chain, energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
- Only about 10% of the energy from one level is passed on to the next level.
- This phenomenon occurs due to energy losses through metabolic processes such as respiration, movement, and heat.
Importance of the 10% Rule
- The 10% Rule highlights the inefficiency of energy transfer in ecosystems, emphasizing that only a fraction of energy is available to higher trophic levels.
- For example, if a plant (producer) captures 1000 calories of energy from the sun, only about 100 calories will be available to the herbivore (primary consumer) that eats it, and merely 10 calories will be available to the carnivore (secondary consumer) that eats the herbivore.
Implications on Ecosystem Structure
- The limitation imposed by the 10% Rule affects the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem.
- It explains why food chains are typically short, as significant energy loss restricts the number of levels that can be sustained.
Conclusion
The correct answer is option 'A' because it accurately reflects the principle of energy transfer in ecological systems, emphasizing that only about 10% of energy is passed to the next trophic level. Understanding this rule is crucial for studying energy dynamics and the structure of ecosystems.