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Pyramid of Energy Flow

A pyramid of energy flow is helpful in examining how energy is distributed within a food chain. Such a pyramid is set up by approximating the amount of energy absorbed at each level, the amount of energy that is consumed by the higher trophic level and the amount of energy lost to heat and death. In most communities, only 10-15% of the energy absorbed by a trophic level is passed on to the next.

(3000 kj of energy from sun)

aAlgae - First Trophic Level   (300 kj from algae to ants)

(body decay) aAnts - Second Trophic Level   (30 kj from ants to frog)

(body decay) aFrog - Third Trophic Level   (3 kj from frog to snake)

Snake - Fourth Trophic Level (body decay)

Decomposers (decomposers are organisms that break up decayed material for their own benefits)

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