1. The correct response explaining why only approximately ten percent of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next is:
Energy is lost as heat through metabolic processes that help the organism live
This statement reflects the concept of the second law of thermodynamics, which states that energy transformations are not 100% efficient and that some energy is always lost as heat during metabolic processes. This loss of energy as heat accounts for a significant portion of the energy lost as it moves up the food chain from one trophic level to the next.
2. The correct response that best describes a trophic level is:
The position an organism occupies in a food chain or web.
A trophic level refers to the position an organism occupies in a food chain or food web, which is determined by its feeding relationships and the transfer of energy and nutrients from one level to another. Each trophic level represents a different level of consumption and energy transfer within an ecosystem.
