In Terms of Energy Transfer, Why Can't Trophic Levels Be

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The Answer is Trophic levels cannot be in the shape of an inverted pyramid because there would not be enough energy transferred to support the ecosystem as a whole. Since most energy is not transferred between the levels and is instead lost as heat within and out of the organism, it would be impossible for quaternary consumers to produce enough energy to support the rest of the trophic levels. The only energy transfer between levels that is substantial is that from producers to primary consumers. The energy made by producers is what supports and fuels the entire ecosystem, so if they were the least abundant, they would also not produce enough energy for the other trophic levels and the ecosystem would collapse.

In Terms of Energy Transfer, Why Can't Trophic Levels Be

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