According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. If this is true, why is there less energy in the top of the energy pyramid than there is in the bottom of the energy pyramid?
1 Answer
Sep 1, 2016
Not all of the energy is transferred.
Explanation:
Through the energy pyramid, energy is transferred but not necessarily all of it.
For example:
Carrots, being the producer are eaten by a rabbit. Let's say the rabbit obtains 3000J of energy.
Although humans, may eat this rabbit,as the secondary consumer, the rabbit will carry out functions such as excretion and movement which use up energy. As a result, the maximum energy that can be obtained by the secondary consumer is 2000J (for example). Furthermore, this consumer may not consume the whole rabbit and so while not obtain 2000J, but will intake less, say 1500J.
This is why there is less energy at the top, than at the bottom
