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 cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition.
D) Energy transfer between trophic levels is usually less than 20 percent efficient.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Energy transfer between trophic levels is typically inefficient, with only about 10% of the energy from one level being passed to the next. This inefficiency limits the number of sustainable trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Which of the Following Is Primarily Responsible for Limiting the Number