Question

assuming the phytoplankton has 100,000 joules of chemical energy, what can you infer about the amount of energy available to the other trophic levels? choose all that apply.
herbivores would have 10,000 j of energy available.
secondary consumers would have 1000 j of energy available.
the invertebrates have 9,000 j of energy available.
secondary consumers have 10% of the energy of the producers available.
the tertiary consumers have 100 j of the energy available.

Explanation:

Step1: Energy transfer rule

According to the 10% energy transfer rule in an ecosystem.

Step2: Calculate energy for herbivores

If phytoplankton (primary producers) have \(100000\ J\) of energy, herbivores (primary consumers) get \(10\%\) of it. So \(100000\times0.1 = 10000\ J\).

Step3: Calculate energy for secondary consumers

Secondary consumers get \(10\%\) of the herbivores' energy. \(10000\times0.1=1000\ J\).

Step4: Calculate energy for tertiary consumers

Tertiary consumers get \(10\%\) of the secondary consumers' energy. \(1000\times0.1 = 100\ J\).

Answer:

Herbivores would have \(10000\ J\) of energy available.
Secondary consumers would have \(1000\ J\) of energy available.
The tertiary consumers have \(100\ J\) of the energy available.