Why are food chains relatively short?
A) Top-level feeders tend to be more numerous than lower-trophic-level species.
B) Top-level feeders tend to be small but are capable of conserving more energy.
C) Longer chains are less stable and energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient.
D) There are only so many organisms that are adapted to feed on other types of organisms.
E) Food-chain length is ultimately determined by the photosynthetic efficiency of producers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Longer food chains are less stable because energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient. As energy is transferred from one level to another, some energy is always lost as heat. This limits the number of levels that can be supported in a food chain, resulting in relatively short chains.

Why Are Food Chains Relatively Short