Why the majority of energy in an ecosystem eventually disappears
In short: This video breaks down how biomass moves through an ecosystem, explaining why only a fraction of energy reaches the top predators. It covers the structure of biomass pyramids and the specific reasons why energy is lost at every step of the food chain.
A biomass pyramid represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem. As energy moves from producers to primary and secondary consumers, the amount of biomass significantly decreases. This loss occurs because not all biomass is consumed, and much of what is eaten is lost as heat or waste products.
The video also teaches students how to calculate the efficiency of biomass transfer between these levels. Understanding these mechanics is essential for AQA, Edexcel, and OCR science curricula, where students must distinguish between biomass, energy, and number pyramids.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: GCSE Biology - Pyramids of Biomass (2026/27 exams)
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