Question

Determine which of the following statements is true about energy in ecosystems A. Consumers pass on 20% of the energy they get from a lower trophic level. OB. Primary consumers lose 60% of the energy they absorb from producers as urine and feces. C. 10% of the energy Primary consumers absorb is lost as heat. Ons Primary producers lose 20% of the energy they absorb as urine and feces.​

Answer 1

The true statement about energy in ecosystems is related to the '10% rule', where only about 10% of the energy is passed on to the next higher trophic level, and the rest is lost or used by the organisms at that level.

Step-by-step explanation:

True Statement about Energy in Ecosystems

In ecosystems, energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with much of the energy lost at each transfer. Statement A is incorrect because consumers typically pass on only about 10% of the energy they get from a lower trophic level, not 20%. Statement B is also incorrect, as it's not specifically urine and feces where the majority of energy is lost in primary consumers; it includes a combination of life processes like metabolism. Statement C suggests 10% of energy is lost as heat which is partially true, but it's a misleading statement as a much larger percentage is lost (around 90% is used or lost at each level, much of it as metabolic heat). Statement D is incorrect, as primary producers do not excrete urine and feces; energy they absorb is used for their growth, maintenance, and respiration with a large portion lost as heat.

The only truly accurate concept here, with regards to the transfer of energy between levels is the 10% rule, which states that only about 10% of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next higher trophic level; the rest is used by the organisms or lost to the environment primarily as heat due to metabolic processes.