Ten percent law

The Ten percent law is the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next was introduced by Raymond Lindeman (1942). According to this law, during the transfer of energy from organic food from one trophic level to the next, only about ten percent of the energy from organic matter is stored as flesh. The remaining is lost during transfer, broken down in respiration, or lost to incomplete digestion by higher trophic level.

The food chain

Plants absorb 1 percent sun energy for primary production and can store only 10% of the utilized energy as net production available for the herbivores. When the plants are consumed by animal, about 10% of the energy in the food is fixed into animal flesh which is available for next trophic level (carnivores or omnivores). When a carnivore or an omnivore consumes that animal, only about 10% of energy is fixed in its flesh for the higher level. For example:- Sun releases 1000J of energy, then plants take only 10J of energy from sunlight and stores 1J available for herbivores/omnivores; thereafter, a deer would take 0.1J from the plant. A wolf eating the deer would only take 0.01J. A human eating the wolf would take 0.001J, etc. The quick way to find the energy at each level

       Energy at n(th) level =(energy given by sun)/(10)^(n+1). 
                   Or Energy at n(Th) level =(energy given by plant)/(10)^(n-1)
             {Remember to count only from plant for both equation}

The ten percent law gives us a basic understanding on the cycling of food chains. Furthermore, the ten percent law shows the inefficiency of energy capture at each successive trophic level. The rational conclusion being energy efficiency is best preserved by sourcing food as close to the initial energy source as possible.

References

• Lindeman, RL (1942). "The trophic-dynamic aspect of ecology". Ecology. 23: 399–418. doi:10.2307/1930126.

10 percent of energy stays in each trophic level