APFIVE Trophic Level Energy Transfer Calculation
According to the 10% rule of energy transfer in ecosystems, only 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next. If primary producers capture 10,000 Joules of energy, how much energy is available to tertiary consumers (three transfers from the producers)? Use the formula $$E_{tertiary}=10000*(0.1)^3$$.
A
1000 Joules
B
A misinterpretation might lead one to think that each trophic level retains more energy, such as 1 Joule or 10,000 Joules, but the proper calculation yields 10 Joules.
C
100 Joules
D
10 Joules