Understanding Energy Transfer in Food Chains
What is the process of energy transfer in food chains?
The snake contains 1,000 joules of energy. How much energy will the hawk effectively use upon eating the snake?
Energy Transfer in Food Chains
In a typical food chain, energy is transferred from one organism to another through consumption. When a predator consumes its prey, it absorbs the energy stored in the prey's body.
When a snake containing 1,000 joules of energy is eaten by a hawk, only a portion of that energy is transferred and utilized by the hawk.
In a food chain, energy is transferred from one trophic level to another as organisms consume each other. When a primary consumer (herbivore) eats plants, it takes in the energy stored in the plants. When a secondary consumer (carnivore) eats the herbivore, it absorbs the energy from the herbivore's body.
Now, let's calculate how much energy the hawk will effectively use upon eating the snake. Since only 10% of the energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next, we can apply this principle to the scenario.
Only 10% of the snake's energy will be effectively used by the hawk. Therefore, 10% of 1,000 joules = 100 joules. This means the hawk will use 900 joules of energy upon consuming the snake.