While energy transfer between biological trophic levels (producers to consumers, or consumers to consumers) generally follows the 10% rule—meaning about 10% of energy is transferred while 90% is lost—the transfer from the sun to producers is significantly less efficient. Most of the solar radiation reaching the Earth cannot be used for photosynthesis; plants typically capture and convert only 1% to 2% (sometimes cited as up to 4%) of the available solar energy into chemical energy. Because this percentage is much lower than the ~10% efficiency seen in subsequent links of the food chain, it is the least efficient transfer link in the ecosystem.
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