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    Assignment 1596891276 Sms

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    Anshuman Jain
    1) Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of parameters like numbers, biomass, and energy across trophic levels in an ecosystem. There are three main types - numbers, biomass, and energy. 2) Pyramids of numbers can be upright or inverted depending on whether numbers increase or decrease with each trophic level. Biomass and energy pyramids are usually upright, with the largest amounts at the lowest trophic levels. 3) Energy pyramids best reflect energy loss at each trophic transfer and the role of organisms in energy flow, in accordance with thermodynamic laws. They show the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem.

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    Assignment 1596891276 Sms

    Uploaded by

    Anshuman Jain
    95 views15 pages
    1) Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of parameters like numbers, biomass, and energy across trophic levels in an ecosystem. There are three main types - numbers, biomass, and energy. 2) Pyramids of numbers can be upright or inverted depending on whether numbers increase or decrease with each trophic level. Biomass and energy pyramids are usually upright, with the largest amounts at the lowest trophic levels. 3) Energy pyramids best reflect energy loss at each trophic transfer and the role of organisms in energy flow, in accordance with thermodynamic laws. They show the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem.

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    1) Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of parameters like numbers, biomass, and energy across trophic levels in an ecosystem. There are three main types - numbers, biomass, and energy. 2) Pyramids of numbers can be upright or inverted depending on whether numbers increase or decrease with each trophic level. Biomass and energy pyramids are usually upright, with the largest amounts at the lowest trophic levels. 3) Energy pyramids best reflect energy loss at each trophic transfer and the role of organisms in energy flow, in accordance with thermodynamic laws. They show the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    95 views15 pages

    Assignment 1596891276 Sms

    Uploaded by

    Anshuman Jain
    1) Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of parameters like numbers, biomass, and energy across trophic levels in an ecosystem. There are three main types - numbers, biomass, and energy. 2) Pyramids of numbers can be upright or inverted depending on whether numbers increase or decrease with each trophic level. Biomass and energy pyramids are usually upright, with the largest amounts at the lowest trophic levels. 3) Energy pyramids best reflect energy loss at each trophic transfer and the role of organisms in energy flow, in accordance with thermodynamic laws. They show the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem.

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    of 15

    Ecological Pyramids

    B.Sc. Part-I, Paper-I, Group-B


    Dr. Vandana Kumari, Department of Zoology, R.C.S. College, Manjhaul
    Introduction

     The structure of ecosystems can be visualized with ecological pyramids,


    which were first described by the pioneering studies of Charles Elton in the
    1920s. Ecological pyramids show the relative amounts of various parameters
    (such as number of organisms, energy, and biomass) across trophic levels. It
    has numerous names like Eltonian pyramid after Charles Elton, energy
    pyramid, trophic pyramid, and food pyramid.
     Ecological Pyramid is a graphical depiction which is meant to illustrate the
    relationship between different living organisms at different level in
    an ecosystem. In an ecosystem there are three types of ecological pyramid.
     The pyramid consists of a no. of horizontal bars showing specific trophic
    levels which are arranged sequentially from primary producer level through
    herbivores, carnivores onwards. The length of each bar represent the total
    no. of individuals at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
     The number, biomass and energy of organism gradually decreases with each
    step from the producer level to consumer level and the diagrammatic
    representation takes a pyramid shape.
    Types of Ecological pyramid

    The ecological pyramids are of three types-


    1. Pyramid of numbers
    2. Pyramid of Biomass
    3. Pyramid of Energy
    Pyramid of Numbers

     Pyramid of numbers represent the total numbers of individuals(population)


    present in each trophic level. This deals with the relationship between the
    numbers of primary producers and consumers of different levels. This pyramid
    is quite convenient especially when it comes to counting the number of
    organisms. Counting is a simple task and it can be done over the years to
    determine the changes in a specific ecosystem. It is a graphic representation
    of the total no. of individuals of different species belonging to each trophic
    level in an ecosystem.
     Pyramid of number is divided into two different form depending on the
    number of organism
    ❑ Upright Pyramid of number
    ❑ Inverted Pyramid of number
    Upright pyramid of Number

     In the Upright pyramid of


    numbers, the numbers of
    organisms mostly reduce from
    bottom to top. It usually
    occurs in pond and grassland
    ecosystems where plants
    occupy the base of the
    pyramid. The next levels of
    the pyramid include the
    consumers.
    Inverted pyramid of number

     An inverted pyramid is actually the


    opposite of the upright pyramid. It
    can closely be observed in tree
    ecosystem, where trees are the
    producers and insects are the
    consumers.
    Drawbacks of pyramid of numbers

     Amongst the three ecosystem pyramids. The pyramid of number is the most
    incorrect, as it does not take into consideration the exact population. Hence,
    it cannot completely elaborate on the trophic structure in a system.
     This pyramid ignores the biomass of species and it doesn’t show the energy
    transferred between individual groups.
     Pyramids of numbers are not very functional as they do not give a clear or
    true picture of the food chain.
    Pyramid of Biomass

     This pyramid indicates the total mass of organisms in a particular trophic level.
    A pyramid of numbers shows the relationship between the amount of food
    available and how much energy is being passed at each trophic. Biomass
    consumed by animals mostly is either converted to living tissue, converted to
    energy or remain as undigested products.
     The pyramid is usually larger at the bottom but as it goes up it reduces in size
    and becomes smaller. There is always a reduction of biomass with an increase
    in trophic level. Approximately 10% to 20% of the biomass is passed from one
    trophic level to the other.
     Just like pyramid of number it is also of two type-
     Upright pyramid of biomass
     Inverted pyramid of biomass
    Upright pyramid of biomass

    An example of an upright
    pyramid is the terrestrial
    ecosystem. It has a large
    base mainly consists of
    primary consumers, the
    smaller trophic levels are
    located at the top.
    Inverted pyramid of biomass
    Pyramid of energy

     An energy pyramid represents the amount of energy at each trophic level and
    loss of energy at each transfer to another trophic level. Pyramid of energy is
    an upright pyramid that illustrates the flow of energy from producers to
    consumers. Furthermore, it indicates the actual role played by various
    organisms in energy transfer. Energy pyramids indicate how much energy is
    required in the next trophic level as it flows upwards. Hence the pyramid
    is always upright, with a large energy base at the bottom.
     To compare the functional role of the tropic levels in an ecosystem, the
    energy pyramid is more suitable.
     It reflects the laws of thermodynamics, with conversion of solar energy to
    chemical energy and heat energy at each trophic level and with the loss of
    energy being depicted at each transfer to each trophic level.
    Pyramid of energy
    Significance of ecological pyramid

    ➢ They show the feeding of different organisms in different ecosystems.


    ➢ It shows the efficiency of energy transfer.
    ➢ The condition of the ecosystem can be monitored, and any further damage
    can be prevented.
    Limitations of ecological pyramid

    ➢ More than one species may occupy multiple trophic levels as in case of the
    food web. Thus, this system does not take into account food webs.
    ➢ The saprophytes are not considered in any of the pyramids even though they
    form an important part of the various ecosystem.
    ➢ These pyramids are applicable only to simple food chains, which usually do
    not occur naturally.
    ➢ These pyramids do not deliver any concept in relation to variations in season
    and climate.
    ➢ They do not consider the possibility of the existence of the same species at
    different levels.

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