Ecological efficiency is the amount of energy that is transferred from one trophic level to the
next. It is defined as the energy supply available to trophic level N + 1, divided by the energy consumed by trophic level N. This follows the 10% rule, which states that roughly 10% of the energy at one level will be available to be used by the next level. Hence if ecosystem A has higher ecological efficiency than B, then it means energy transfer between trophic levels is more efficient in ecosystem A than B.
For example, in an ecological pyramid, producers are consumed by primary consumers. The consumers eat these producers, but only about 10% of what they consume actually becomes new biomass for the primary consumer. So if a wolf eats a deer, only 10% of what was consumed becomes new wolf biomass.
CGPCS Notes brings Prelims and Mains programs for CGPCS Prelims and CGPCS Mains Exam preparation. Various Programs initiated by CGPCS Notes are as follows:-