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Why do food chains rarely have more than four or five trophic levels?
ADecomposers eat top predators (option)
BPredators run out of speed
CThe Sun emits limited light
DEnergy lost between levels limits how many levels can be sustained
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Energy lost between levels limits how many levels can be sustained
1. About 90% of energy is lost at each transfer (heat, metabolism, waste).
2. After 4–5 levels, the remaining energy is too small to support another consumer level.
3. Hence food chains are short.
_Source: NCERT Class 10 Science, Ch 13 "Our Environment", §13.1.1_
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