Question

If my starting energy at the producers is 1500 kcal, using the 10% rule, how much energy is available to the tertiary consumers?

Answer 1

1.5 kcal

Step-by-step explanation:

The ten (10) percent rule involves how only as low as 10% of the available energy is transferred to each organism in trophic levels. In an ecosystem, the order of trophic levels are: producer ➡ primary consumer ➡ secondary consumer ➡ tertiary consumer.

According to this question, 1500 kcal of energy is starting at the producer level. Hence;

- 10% of 1500 kcal = 10/100 × 1500 = 150 kcal will be available to the primary consumer

- 10% of 150 kcal = 10/100 × 150 = 15 kcal will be available to the secondary consumer.

- 10% of 15 kcal = 10/100 × 15 = 1.5kcal will be available to the tertiary consumer.