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CAIE IGCSE Biology 19.2.18 Why Food Chains Have Few Trophic Levels

Practise explaining why energy loss at each transfer means food chains usually contain fewer than five trophic levels.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • state that energy transfer between successive trophic levels is inefficient
  • give losses such as respiration, heat, movement, waste or uneaten material
  • explain that too little energy remains to support another consumer level

19.2.18—Explain, in terms of energy loss, why question 1

[Maximum number: 3]

Fig. 6.2 shows the pyramid of energy for a food chain in an ocean ecosystem.

Fig. 6.2

Fig. 6.2

Explain why pyramids of energy usually have fewer than five trophic levels.

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