What is the 10% rule in the food chain
The 10% rule is a concept in ecology that describes the transfer of energy between trophic levels in a food chain. According to this rule, only approximately 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level.
To understand the 10% rule, let's first explain what a trophic level is. In a food chain, trophic levels represent the different levels of organisms based on their feeding relationship. The first trophic level consists of primary producers, such as plants or algae, which convert sunlight energy into food through photosynthesis. The second trophic level consists of herbivores, which consume the primary producers. The third trophic level consists of carnivores or omnivores that consume the herbivores, and so on.
Now, when an organism consumes another organism, it gains energy from the food it consumes. However, not all of that energy is fully transferred as it moves up the food chain. Some energy is used by the organism for its own metabolic processes, such as respiration, movement, and reproduction. This means that the energy available to be passed on to the next trophic level is reduced.
The 10% rule suggests that, on average, only approximately 10% of the energy from one trophic level is converted into biomass and becomes available as food for the next trophic level. This is due to the inefficiency of energy transfer and the energy loss that occurs through processes like heat production and waste elimination.
To calculate the energy available at each trophic level, scientists use ecological pyramids which show the relative energy amounts at each level. These pyramids represent the decreasing energy flow as you move up the food chain and help visualize how the 10% rule operates.
Understanding the 10% rule is crucial in understanding the dynamics of energy flow and the interconnections between different organisms within ecosystems.