The First Law of Thermodynamics States That Energy Can Be

Multiple Choice

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be transformed from one state to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Taking this into consideration, what can be said about the energy transferred between levels in a trophic pyramid?

A) Some of the energy in a trophic level is converted to heat and is unavailable to the next level of the trophic pyramid.
B) All the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next because components that have no energy, that is, light, are used to create the energy in the chemical bonds of carbohydrates.
C) All the energy necessary for a trophic level is transferred to the next one. Because there is less biomass at each trophic level, less energy needs to be transferred.
D) Some of the energy is held in one trophic level, and only the energy needed to support the smaller biomass at a higher level is transferred.
E) Organisms at higher trophic levels only consume the energy they need from lower trophic levels, leaving a "bank" of energy to support the higher level when food is scarce.