Question

What is the meaning of 10% law of energy transfer? Explain.

Answer 1

According to the 10% law, only about 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level; the remaining 90% is lost as heat, used in respiration, or lost in undigested/not utilised food. For example, if producers store 10,000 kcal, herbivores receive about 1,000 kcal, primary carnivores about 100 kcal, and secondary carnivores about 10 kcal. This law explains why food chains are short and why pyramids of energy are always upright.