Question

If a Killer whale is feeding at the fourth trophic level, how much phytoplankton mass is required to add each gram of new mass to the whale? Assume that 10% of the energy at one trophic level is transferred to the next level.

a. 1000 grams b. 100 grams c. 500 grams d. 1 gram

Answer 1

a. 1000 grams. 1000 is divided by ten each time it goes up the trophic scale. since it goes up 2, 3 and 4, the answer is 1000. (1000/10/10/10=1)