What percentage of the sun's energy that reaches Earth's surface is utilized by living organisms?

The correct answer indicates that less than 1% of the sun's energy that reaches Earth's surface is utilized by living organisms. This low percentage is primarily due to the inefficiencies in the process of photosynthesis, where only a small fraction of solar energy is converted into chemical energy by plants.

Photosynthesis captures sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen, but several factors influence the efficiency of this process, including the type of plants, environmental conditions, and the angle of sunlight. Additionally, not all solar energy is absorbed by plants since some is reflected or transmitted through the atmosphere, and some wavelengths of light are not effectively used in photosynthesis.

These dynamics explain why the utilization of solar energy by living organisms, particularly for the growth and sustenance of autotrophs, is limited to this small fraction. Understanding the energy flow in ecosystems and the constraints on energy conversion is crucial in ecology and biology, highlighting the importance of energy efficiency in sustaining life on Earth.