Assume you are constructing an energy pyramid for a marsh ecosystem. You determine that the maximum energy available at the base is 1,500 calories. How many calories are available at the tertiary consumer trophic level

The correct answer is 1.5 calories

Explanation:

A food chain is a feeding relationship between organisms. Every food chain consists of producers and different consumers. As per the question, a food chain in a mash ecosystem may consist of planktons as producers and small fish, mullet as primary consumer, bigger fish, red drum as a secondary consumer and a bird, great blue heron as a tertiary or top consumer.  

As per 10 % rule of energy transfer, only 10% of the energy at each trophic level is available as food for the next trophic level. According to the question, the maximum energy available at the base (at producer level) is 1,500 calories, the primary consumer will get 10% of 1500 calories which will be 150 calories. Similarly at secondary consumer will get 15 calories and finally at tertiary consumer willet 10 % of 15 calories will be 1.5 calories. Thus, 1.5 calories are available at the tertiary consumer trophic level.