Question

Write the percentage of the energy of sunlight captured by green plants, to convert it into food energy. Explain the fate of this energy when green plants are eaten by primary consumers.

Hint:

Only about 1-2% of sunlight energy is captured by plants for photosynthesis, and when plants are eaten, about 10% of this energy is transferred to herbivores.

Answer 1

Green plants, through the process of photosynthesis, capture a small portion of the energy from sunlight. Only about 1-2% of the total sunlight energy is used by plants to produce food through photosynthesis. This energy is stored in the form of glucose, starch, and other organic compounds. When herbivores (primary consumers) eat plants, they obtain this stored energy. However, only about 10% of the energy stored in the plant is passed on to the herbivore, as energy is lost in the form of heat, respiration, and excretion during the process of consumption and digestion. The rest is used for metabolic functions, movement, and growth. Thus, only a small fraction of the solar energy captured by plants is transferred to the herbivores.