Question

Of the total amount of energy that passes from one trophic level to another, about \(10 \%\) is a. respired and becomes heat. b. passed out as feces or urine. c. stored as body tissue. d. recycled to autotrophs. e. All of these are correct.

Short answer

The correct answer is option c. About \(10\%\) of the energy consumed by organisms is stored as body tissue and can be transferred to the next trophic level.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Trophic Levels

In an ecosystem, trophic levels represent different stages of energy flow. The primary producers (autotrophs) are the base of the food chain, converting sunlight energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. The subsequent trophic levels (primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, etc.) transfer this energy upward as each level consumes the level below it.

Energy Transfer Between Trophic Levels

When organisms consume food, they use the absorbed energy for several purposes: cellular respiration, growth and reproduction, and waste production (feces and urine). The energy that goes into these processes is not 100% efficient; much of it is lost as heat. Therefore, only about 10% of the energy consumed is stored as body tissue and available for transfer to the next trophic level.

Option by Option Analysis

a. Respired and becomes heat - Partly correct, as only a portion of the energy is lost as heat through respiration. However, this option does not provide the complete answer. b. Passed out as feces or urine - Incorrect, as this option does not address the energy transfer between trophic levels. c. Stored as body tissue - Correct, about 10% of the energy consumed by organisms gets stored as body tissue and can be transferred to the next trophic level. d. Recycled to autotrophs - Incorrect, as this option refers to the cycling of nutrients, not energy. e. All of these are correct - Incorrect, as only one of the above options is correct.

Final Answer

The correct answer is option c. About 10% of the energy consumed by organisms is stored as body tissue and can be transferred to the next trophic level.