Question

Pyramid of numbers is
A) Always upright
B) Always inverted
C) Either upright or inverted
D) Neither upright or inverted

Answer 1

Hint:The pyramid of numbers represents a graphical form of ecological cycle exhibiting the feeding relationship and the organism number present across each level.

Complete answer:
Option A: The pyramid of numbers does not exhibit the biomass produced by organisms. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option B: Pyramid of numbers is always inverted for the following reasons –
This pyramid represents the total individual organism counts at every level throughout the food chain within an ecosystem.
This pyramid always represents an inverted shape as it lacks taking into account the biomass concentration produced by an organism.
Such pyramid type can be found across an ecosystem wherein the community features a few producers counts along with a varied count of biomass supporting a large chunk of smaller consumers.
This can also be found in those ecosystems wherein the community exhibits the presence of large counts of parasites. Therefore, this is the correct option.
Option C: Every ecological pyramid has to be either of the two – upright or inverted. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option D: Every ecological pyramid has to be either of the two – upright or inverted. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Thus, the correct option is (B)Always inverted.

Note: Pyramid of numbers is used in determining the effect produced by a particular species of organisms on another and can also be used to serve qualitative analysis of an ecosystem.