Let’s go step by step to solve this worksheet.
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Part 1: Name the trophic levels and write available energy at each level
In an energy pyramid, energy flows from bottom to top. The sun gives energy to producers (plants). Then animals eat plants or other animals. At each level, only about
10% of the energy is passed on — the rest is used for life processes or lost as heat.
So, starting from the bottom:
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Bottom level (widest) → Producers (like grass, trees) → They get energy from the sun. Available energy =
10,000 units (we usually start with this number for simplicity).
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Next level up → Primary consumers (herbivores that eat plants) → Get 10% of 10,000 =
1,000 units
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Next level → Secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores) → Get 10% of 1,000 =
100 units
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Top level (smallest) → Tertiary consumers (top predators) → Get 10% of 100 =
10 units
*(Note: Sometimes there are more levels, but in this diagram, we have 4 boxes on the right side — so we’ll assign them from bottom to top.)*
So labeling the pyramid from bottom to top:
→ Bottom box:
Producers – 10,000 units
→ Next box:
Primary Consumers – 1,000 units
→ Next box:
Secondary Consumers – 100 units
→ Top box:
Tertiary Consumers – 10 units
*(Arrows point upward showing energy flow from lower to higher levels.)*
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Part 2: Answer the questions
Q1) What are herbivores?
Herbivores are animals that eat only plants. Examples: cows, deer, rabbits.
Q2) What are carnivores?
Carnivores are animals that eat only meat (other animals). Examples: lions, wolves, eagles.
Q3) Fill in the blanks:
a. An animal with no natural enemy is an
apex predator.
*(This means it’s at the top of the food chain — nothing eats it.)*
b. Organisms that make their own food are called
producers.
*(Like plants — they use sunlight to make food via photosynthesis.)*
c. Organisms that cannot make their own food are called
consumers.
*(They must eat other organisms to get energy.)*
d.
Producers form the base of the food chain.
*(All energy starts with them.)*
e. There are many more
producers than primary consumers in an ecosystem.
*(Because energy decreases as you go up — you need lots of plants to support fewer herbivores.)*
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Final Answer:
Energy Pyramid Labels (from bottom to top):
- Producers – 10,000 units
- Primary Consumers – 1,000 units
- Secondary Consumers – 100 units
- Tertiary Consumers – 10 units
Q1: Herbivores are animals that eat only plants.
Q2: Carnivores are animals that eat only meat.
Q3:
a. apex predator
b. producers
c. consumers
d. Producers
e. producers
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of pyramid of energy worksheet.
