Question

Which statement below best describes the ways that energy and pesticides are transferred between levels in food chains?

• A. Available energy increases and pesticide concentrations increase as you move up a food chain.
• B. Available energy decreases and pesticide concentrations increase as you move up a food chain.
• C. Available energy decreases and pesticide concentrations decrease as you move up a food chain.
• D. Available energy increases and pesticide concentrations decrease as you move up a food chain.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The energy gain in an organism at each trophic level is utilized in all metabolic activities and also lost as heat to the surrounding. Thus, lower amount of energy is transferred to succeeding trophic level in a food chain.
Pesticides are harmful chemicals that are non-biodegradable and remain in the body tissues throughout their life. These chemicals are passed to the succeeding trophic level and accumulates and increases at each trophic level.
Concentration of pesticides increases whereas energy level decreases, from lower to higher trophic level in a food chain.