What is Lindeman's 10% law?

Lindeman (1942) proposed that only about 10% of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next. The remaining 90% is lost through respiration, excretion, and heat. This is why food chains are usually limited to 4-5 levels.

What is the difference between food chain and food web?

A food chain is a linear sequence showing who eats whom. A food web is a network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem — a more realistic representation since most animals eat multiple species.

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the soil and atmosphere. This makes nutrient cycling possible and prevents accumulation of dead material.

Ecosystems and Ecological Relationships

Ecology • Class 11 Biology • NCERT • CBSE

Ecosystem = biotic + abiotic components. Food chain: producers → primary consumers → secondary consumers → tertiary consumers. 10% law: only 10% energy transferred to next trophic level. Nutrient cycles: nitrogen, carbon, water cycle.

Key Formulas

10% Law: Energy at next level = 10% of previous level
NPP = GPP − Respiration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lindeman's 10% law?: Lindeman (1942) proposed that only about 10% of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next. The remaining 90% is lost through respiration, excretion, and heat. This is why food chains are usually limited to 4-5 levels.
What is the difference between food chain and food web?: A food chain is a linear sequence showing who eats whom. A food web is a network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem — a more realistic representation since most animals eat multiple species.
What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?: Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the soil and atmosphere. This makes nutrient cycling possible and prevents accumulation of dead material.

Study With GyanAI

GyanAI's AI tutor can answer any question about this topic instantly. Try GyanAI free for step-by-step NCERT solutions aligned with the CBSE curriculum.