Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:45 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Food chain:
Plants → Rat → Snake → Hawk
(Plants form the first trophic level; rat = 2nd; snake = 3rd; hawk = 4th)
(ii) Using the 10% Law of Energy Transfer:
- Energy transferred to 2nd trophic level = 20,000 J
- Energy transferred to 3rd trophic level = 10% of 20,000 = 2,000 J
- Energy transferred to 4th trophic level = 10% of 2,000 = 200 J
The organisms of the third trophic level will transfer 200 J of energy to the organisms of the fourth trophic level.
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Explanation
- (i) The food chain must follow the correct feeding sequence: producers first, then herbivores, then carnivores. Plants → Rat → Snake → Hawk is the only correct order here.
- (ii) The 10% Law (Lindeman's Law) states that only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Apply it twice: 10% of 20,000 = 2,000 J (3rd level), then 10% of 2,000 = 200 J (4th level). Always show both steps for full marks.