27. What happens to the energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level? a. It is converted into new energy b. It is stored in the organisms c. It is transferred back to the sun d. It is lost as heat or used for life processes

## Step 1<br />This problem is about the energy flow in an ecosystem, specifically the energy transfer between different trophic levels. Trophic levels are the different stages in a food chain, where each level represents a different position in the chain.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The energy flow in an ecosystem is not 100% efficient. This means that not all the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next. Some of the energy is lost during the process.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level is not converted into new energy, stored in the organisms, or transferred back to the sun. Instead, it is lost as heat or used for life processes.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />This loss of energy is due to the fact that organisms use energy for their metabolic processes, such as growth, reproduction, and repair. This energy is then lost as heat.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Additionally, not all parts of the organism are consumed by the next trophic level. This means that some energy is lost in the form of uneaten parts of the organism.