Question

The amount of energy at the fourth trophic level in the food chain: Grass \(\rightarrow\) Zebra \(\rightarrow\) Crocodile \(\rightarrow\) Vulture is 4 J. What will be the amount of energy available at the sunlight and transducer level?

Hint:

Always use the 1% rule for Sun to Producer and 10% rule for one trophic level to the next.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
1. Lindeman's 10% law: Only 10% energy is transferred to the next level.
2. Transducers (plants) capture only about 1% of sunlight.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Work backward from Vulture (T4):
- T4 (Vulture) = 4 J.
- T3 (Crocodile) = \(4 \times 10 = 40\) J.
- T2 (Zebra) = \(40 \times 10 = 400\) J.
- T1 (Grass/Transducer) = \(400 \times 10 = 4,000\) J.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The transducer (Grass) energy is 4,000 J.
Since plants capture only 1% of incident solar energy:
Sunlight = \(4,000 \times 100 = 4,00,000\) J.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Energy at Transducer level = 4,000 J; Sunlight energy = 4,00,000 J.