How is biomass lost in a food chain?

Biomass is lost in a food chain primarily through energy transfer inefficiencies, as only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next. The remainder is lost as heat through metabolic processes, respiration, and movement, as well as through waste produced by organisms. Additionally, not all parts of consumed organisms are digestible or utilized, contributing to further biomass loss. This results in a decreasing amount of biomass and energy available at each successive trophic level.