Question

what limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain?

why food chains generally consists of three or four steps only?

are these two questions one nd the same?

Answer 1

Because, there is loss of energy take place from going to one level to another level.
According to 10% law, only 10% energy tarsfered to next trophic level....
This limit the trophic level in food chain

Answer 2

A food chain’s length is restricted to just 3 or 4 steps due to energy loss. Moreover, the energy added to the biomass of each trophic level is significantly lower than the one preceding it. This occurs as a result of material wastage from subsequently trophic levels and for the maintenance of various life processes. Consequently, the shorter the food chain, the more energy that is available to the final consumer. A shorter food chain is also considerably more efficient as less energy is lost.