Well, energy pyramids are used to show the flow of energy from one level of the pyramid to the next. They compare energy between the levels as well. These levels are called trophic levels.
The bottom of the energy pyramid, or the first trophic level, is where producers, also known as autotrophs, are. They go here because they make their own food through photosynthesis and this means they have the most energy on the pyramid.
The next level is for primary consumers, or the herbivores in the ecosystem. They get their energy by eating plants, however they do not gain as much energy as the autotrophs make. We’ll get to the why in a moment.
The third trophic level is home to secondary consumers, who eat the primary consumers (and possibly some producers depending on species) for energy. However they do not gain as much energy as the primary consumers or autotrophs.
Typically there is another, fourth trophic level. Here are the tertiary consumers, who get their energy from eating secondary consumers, primary consumers, and ,(depending on species (again)), producers. They have the least amount of energy.
Why is it that energy decreases as we go up the pyramid?
This is called the Rule Of Ten or Ten Percent Rule, I’ve heard both. This means that only ten percent of the energy is passed on as we go up the energy pyramid, the rest goes to bodily functions and other kinds of energy.
I hope this helps!!
