Which of the following is primarily responsible for limiting the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems?
A) Many primary and higher-order consumers are opportunistic feeders.
B) Decomposers compete with higher-order consumers for nutrients and energy.
C) Nutrient cycles involve both abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems.
D) Nutrient cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition.
E) Energy transfer between trophic levels is usually less than 20 percent efficient.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Energy transfer between trophic levels is usually less than 20 percent efficient, meaning that only a small fraction of the energy available at one trophic level is passed on to the next level. This limits the number of trophic levels that can be supported in most ecosystems, as there simply isn't enough energy available to support more than a few levels of consumers.

Which of the Following Is Primarily Responsible for Limiting the Number