Consider the following statements. 1. The energy pyramid of an ecosystem is always upright and narrows to the top. 2. The biomass in the lower trophic levels is generally very high as compared to the higher trophic levels. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Consider the following statements. 1. The energy pyramid of an ecosystem is always upright and narrows to the top. 2. The biomass in the lower trophic levels is generally very high as compared to the higher trophic levels. Which of the above statements is/are correct? Correct Answer Both 1 and 2
The correct answer is Both 1 and 2
Key Points
- An ecological pyramid or energy pyramid is a graphical representation designed to show the biomass or bio productivity at each trophic level in a given ecosystem.
- Since each higher trophic level receives only a fraction of the energy of the lower trophic levels, the energy pyramid is narrow at the top.
- Ecological pyramids begin with producers on the bottom (such as plants) and proceed through the various trophic levels (such as herbivores that eat plants, then carnivores that eat flesh, than omnivores that eat both plants and flesh, and so on).
- The highest level is the top of the food chain.
- An energy pyramid is always upright because when energy flows from a particular trophic level to the next trophic level, some energy is always lost as heat at each step. Thus the total amount of energy available for utilization in the top levels is always less than the energy available in the lower levels. Hence statement 1 & 2 is correct.
[ alt="energy pyramid" src="https://www.insightsonindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/energy_pyramid.png" style="height: 359px; width: 500px;">
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Feb 20, 2025