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10% efficiency threshold

Definition

The 10% efficiency threshold refers to the maximum amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem. It represents the inefficiency of energy transfer as energy is lost through respiration, heat, and other metabolic processes.

Analogy

Imagine a pizza delivery chain where each delivery person takes a slice of pizza and delivers it to another person. However, with each transfer, some pizza slices are dropped or eaten along the way. The 10% efficiency threshold is like the maximum amount of intact pizza slices that can be passed on at each step before they start getting dropped or consumed.

Related terms

Trophic levels: These refer to different positions in a food chain where organisms obtain their energy. For example, plants occupy the first trophic level as primary producers.

Energy pyramid: This is a graphical representation that shows how energy decreases at each trophic level in an ecosystem. It demonstrates the diminishing amount of available energy as you move up the food chain.

Biomagnification: This process occurs when toxins or pollutants become more concentrated as they move up through trophic levels in a food chain.