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Energy Flow and Food Chains · NCERT Biology

Why is the number of trophic levels in a food chain generally limited to 4 or 5?

  1. Because predators at higher levels become physically too large to be preyed upon
  2. Because the steep energy loss at each transfer leaves too little for higher levels
  3. Because there is insufficient habitat space for organisms beyond the fifth level
  4. Because decomposers consume and dismantle the chain once it exceeds five links
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Correct answer: Because the steep energy loss at each transfer leaves too little for higher levels

Due to the 10 percent law, energy decreases exponentially at each level. By the 4th or 5th level, the remaining energy is usually too low to support a viable population of a higher trophic level.

Difficulty: Medium Question 12 of 20

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