Calculating the Efficiency of Energy Transfers

Energy is transferred through ecosystems, starting from producers (plants) and moving through various trophic levels (different stages of the food chain).
When calculating energy transfer efficiency, use the following formula: (Energy transferred to the next level / Energy available at the previous level) x 100%.
During energy transfers, much energy is wasted. This energy is lost to the environment, typically as heat, and is not passed on through the food chain. Only a small fraction, usually around 10%, is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
Energy transfer efficiency tends to decrease up through the trophic levels, as more energy is lost at each stage.
The extent of energy loss can be represented through energy pyramids, which show the amount of energy at each trophic level in a given ecosystem.
Pyramids of energy always have a broad base and a narrow top, indicating low energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels.
When human activities interfere with energy flows and trophic levels, this can impact the entire ecosystem, leading to energy loss and potential disruptions to the food chain.
Such disruption can result from pollution, overfishing, deforestation, among other factors. These actions decrease the amount of available energy, impacting populations and even causing species to become endangered or extinct.
Mitigation strategies aim to limit human impact and protect ecosystems, including sustainable farming and fishing practises, conservation efforts, and legal protections.