Approximately 10% of the energy absorbed by one
trophic level is transferred to the next successive
level. The same number of calories are available at
the primary producer level of each of these food
chains.
Food Chain 1:
phytoplankton → zooplankton → smelt → trout → humans
Food Chain 2: phytoplankton → smelt → humans
How much energy is available to humans in
Food Chain 2 as compared to the energy available
to humans in Food Chain 1 ?
(look at the difference in trophic levels)