The flow of energy in an arctic ecosystem goes through a simple food chain: phytoplankton to zooplankton to fish to seals to polar bears.Which of the following is most correct about this food chain?
A)Less energy is transferred from fish to seals than from seals to bears.
B)The total biomass of the fish population is lower than that of the seals.
C)Energy transfer is greater from zooplankton to fish than from fish to seals.
D)Seal populations are larger than zooplankton and phytoplankton populations.
E)There is equal energy transfer in joules between all organisms at all levels.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy transfer is greater from zooplankton to fish than from fish to seals, as there is a greater loss of energy between trophic levels in a food chain. This means that less energy is available for transfer to the next level. Therefore, the total biomass of fish is higher than that of seals. Additionally, the energy transfer from seals to polar bears would also be lower than that from seals to fish. Finally, there is not necessarily equal energy transfer between all organisms at all levels of the food chain.

The Flow of Energy in an Arctic Ecosystem Goes Through