Question

Which of the following limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain?

Options

• Availability of water

• Deficient food supply

• Decrease in energy at higher levels

• Pollution in air

Answer 1

Decrease in energy at higher levels

Explanation:

According to the 10% Rule, only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The remaining 90% is lost as heat during metabolic processes like respiration and movement. Because the energy supply dwindles so significantly at each step, there is eventually not enough energy left to support another population of organisms.