Algae → larva of a prawn → anchovy → eel. In this food chain, algae obtains about 4,000 KJ of energy from the sun. What is the amount of energy that will be available to the eel and why?

Question

Nina Shannon

Biology

3 July, 05:45

Algae → larva of a prawn → anchovy → eel. In this food chain, algae obtains about 4,000 KJ of energy from the sun. What is the amount of energy that will be available to the eel and why?

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Kaia Castro · Answer 1

The energy passed to each subsequent trophic level in food chain is 10% of the energy in the last trophic level. Therefore:

Algae - 4,000 kJ

Larva - 400 kJ

Anchovy - 40 kJ

Eel - 4 kJ

The reduction in the energy passed is due to the fact that when an organism consumes a given amount of energy, it is utilized for different functions within the organism's body and is lost in a form that can not be recovered, for example, as heat energy.