Question

if the secondary consumer level of a trophic pyramid has 1,000 kcal of energy, how much energy is required by the primary consumers (herbivores), to support this pyramid? 10 kcal 17,500 kcal 10,000 kcal

Explanation:

Step1: Apply energy transfer rule

In a trophic pyramid, about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. So, if secondary consumers have energy \(E_{sec}\), primary consumers \(E_{pri}\) have \(E_{pri}=\frac{E_{sec}}{0.1}\)

Step2: Substitute the value

Given \(E_{sec} = 1000\) kcal. Then \(E_{pri}=\frac{1000}{0.1}=10000\) kcal

Answer:

10,000 kcal