Why Are There Never More Than Two to Three Levels

question 46

Multiple Choice

Why are there never more than two to three levels of carnivores in the trophic pyramid of an ecosystem?

• A) Carnivores take up a lot of space.
• B) Most of the energy in each trophic level is used up before it is passed to the next level so after two to three levels above the herbivores, it's gone.
• C) There aren't enough herbivores to support them.
• D) The carnivores are very inefficient in their use of energy, so it gets lost.
• E) Humans hunt the carnivores.

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Definitions:

Demand Curve

A graph showing the relationship between the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing to buy and its price.

Monopolistically Competitive Market

A market structure characterized by many firms selling similar but not identical products, with each having some control over its own prices.

Economic Profit

The profit a company makes after subtracting both its explicit and implicit costs.

Monopolistically Competitive Industry

An industry characterized by many firms, differentiated products, and free entry and exit.