Why are food chains limited to a small number of links?

What will be an ideal response?


Food chains are limited to a small number of links because the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next is approximately 10%. If 90% of the energy consumed at one level is lost for the next trophic level, each level will have much less energy available to it than the previous level. Therefore, it is very difficult to sustain predators at very high trophic levels because there just isn't enough energy available.

Biology & Microbiology

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How many molecules of O2 can a single hemoglobin molecule carry when fully saturated?

A. 4 B. 8 C. 1 D. 2 E. 16

Biology & Microbiology

During daylight hours, primarily

a. Pr absorbs red light and is converted to Pfr. b. Pr absorbs far-red light and is converted to Pfr. c. Pfr absorbs red light and is converted to Pr. d. Pfr absorbs far-red light and is converted to Pr. e. Pfr is converted to Pr.

Biology & Microbiology

Viral capsids are made from subunits called ________.

A. peptones B. prophages C. spikes D. envelopes E. capsomeres

Biology & Microbiology

The Punnett square illustration below shows that

theoretically a. half of human sperm carry a Y chromosome. b. half of human zygotes are XY. c. all zygotes carry an X chromosome. d. gender depends upon which type of sperm fertilizes the egg. e. all of these are true.

Biology & Microbiology