Question

Why are number of tertiary consumer apex carnivores always less than those of other consumers?

Answer 1

At each trophic level, energy available becomes 10% of previous level. So energy available to top carnivores is pretty less, which can sustain lesser number of organisms.

Answer 2

ANSWER:

At each trophic level, the energy available decreases by 10% of what is available at the lower level. So, this means, at the top level of the tertiary carnivores, the energy available is much less or very little which does not allow many carnivores to survive.

EXPLANATION:

Tertiary carnivores are flesh eating animals and survive by eating herbivores and primary consumers. The energy for the survival of these tertiary consumers is very little and so their number is also less.