10. As energy is passed from one trophic level to the next, the amount of usable energy

        a.   increases        b.  decreases         c.  remains constant         d.  is highly variable

There is no such thing as an energy cycle.   Energy flows through an ecosystem, but it does NOT cycle.  Eventually the energy that enters the system winds up in the form of heat energy that radiates out into space.  At each trophic level the amount of energy available to the next trophic level is less.  One of the last questions on this quiz asks you to explain why this is the case.

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Emma Erdahl, Associate Professor of Biology
Northern Virginia Community College
Revised 8/23/00