The flow of energy between various components of the environment has been extensively studied. Give an outline of
the findings.
Answers
The flow of energy between various components of the environment has been established with extensive studies.
Plants produce energy with the help of sunlight. Primary consumers like insects get nergy by eating these plants.
Secondary consumers like rodents get energy by eating these insects.
Top carnivores get energy by eating these rodents and other secondary consumers.
However, the amount of energy decreases as it moves up from plants to top carnivores.
Answer:
(i) Flow of energy is unidirectional.
(ii) Terrestrial plants take about 1% of the Sun’s
energy and change it to chemical energy.
(iii) A great amount of energy is lost as heat / used
for digestion / doing work / growth and reproduction.
(iv) Only 10% of organic matter is present at each
trophic level (and available to the next trophic
level).
(v) Food chains are mainly of 3-4 trophic levels
(because of 10 percent law) .
(vi) The number of producers are maximum (the
number reduces in subsequent trophic levels).
(vii) Food webs are more common (as compared
to isolated food chains).
(viii) Biological magnification can be observed