Energy Transfer is Inefficient

• Sun produces light, less than 1% of the energy falls onto leaves.
• Producers ‘fix’ only about 5-8% of that energy, because of: transmission, reflection and incorrect wavelength.
• Primary consumer only gets between 5-10% because some parts are indigestible (e.g. cellulose) and not eating the whole plant.
• Secondary consumer gets between 10-20% because animal matter is more digestible & has higher energy value
• At each level heat is lost by respiration.