In a typical food pyramid, what percentage of the original solar energy is available to a blackberry plant (a primary producer)?

• A. About 1%
• B. About 10%
• C. About 90%
• D. About 50%

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of energy transfer in an ecosystem: Energy flows through trophic levels in a food pyramid, starting with solar energy captured by primary producers (plants). Only a small fraction of the solar energy is converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
2. Recall the efficiency of energy transfer: Primary producers typically capture about 1% of the solar energy that reaches them. This is due to limitations in photosynthetic efficiency and energy lost as heat.
3. Analyze the question: The blackberry plant is a primary producer, meaning it is at the base of the food pyramid and directly captures solar energy.
4. Match the correct percentage: Based on the concept of energy transfer, the percentage of solar energy available to primary producers like the blackberry plant is approximately 1%.
5. Review the answer choices: Compare the calculated percentage (1%) with the provided options to confirm the correct answer.