I keep getting “Ten per cent law” questions wrong in Ecosystem. What's the trap?
thinking most of the energy moves up to the next level.
The usual trap: thinking most of the energy moves up to the next level. How to avoid it: 90% is lost at each step, which is why food chains are short. Go back to the definition — only about 10% of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next; the rest is lost as heat and in respiration.
Key point
Ten per cent law
Common mistake
thinking most of the energy moves up to the next level.
Memory tip
90% is lost at each step, which is why food chains are short.
Tap to watch or see it right here — the app stays open (it only opens a quick search if nothing embeddable is found).