Question

Consider the pyramid of energy of an ecosystem given below:

If $T_4$ is equivalent to 1000 J, what is the value at $T_1$

• A. $\frac{10000}{10}J$
• B. $\frac{10000}{10}\times 4\ J$
• C. 10,000 J
• D. 10,00,000 J

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

10,00,000 J

Answer 2

The pyramid of energy represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. There is approximately a 10% energy transfer efficiency from one trophic level to the next. This means that each level above retains about 10% of the energy from the level below it.
In this pyramid, T$_4$ represents the top trophic level, and T$_1$ represents the producers (the base of the pyramid). If T$_4$ has 1000 J, then:
$T_3 = 1000 J \times \frac{100}{10} = 10,000 J$
$T_2 = 10,000 J \times \frac{100}{10} = 100,000 J$
$T_1 = 100,000 J \times \frac{100}{10} = 10,00,000 J$