Question

The graphic presentation of various aspects of ecosystems are in the form of pyramids. When such a presentation is made with reference to energy at different trophic levels, it will make
a. An erect pyramid
b. An inverted pyramid
c. A cylinder
d. A pyramid of variable shape

Answer 1

Hint: An ecological pyramid represents different ecological features of different trophic levels present in an ecosystem. The different ecological features are the number of organisms, energy, biomass, etc. These features are studied in the form of ecological pyramids.

Complete answer:
When the relationship between different ecological aspects such as biomass, productivity, or energy at different trophic levels is expressed in a graphical design is referred to as the ecological pyramid. The ecological pyramids start with the producers which are at the bottom and end with the apex predators present at the top level.

Generally, there are three types of Ecological Pyramids found in an ecosystem which are the pyramid of biomass, the pyramid of energy, and the pyramid of numbers.

The pyramid of biomass represents the total biomass generated at different consecutive trophic levels per unit area of an ecosystem. Based on the amount of biomass, it can be upright or inverted. In the pyramid of numbers, it represents the number of individual organisms at different consecutive trophic levels per unit area of an ecosystem. This pyramid shows the numbers of the producers are present at the bottom. In the upper trophic levels, a number of herbivores and carnivores are present.

When the graphical presentation is made with reference to energy at different trophic levels then it is called the pyramid of energy. The pyramid of energy explains the rate of energy flow and productivity at different consecutive trophic levels. The pyramid of energy is always upward or erect. The energy pyramid is always erect because in this case the total amount of energy that is found in each layer is always lower than the amount of energy present at its previous level. Studied shows that only 10% of the total energy is moved from one trophic level to another trophic level.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: An ecological pyramid is the representation of the various ecological aspects such as the number of organisms, energy, biomass, etc. found at successive trophic levels. There are three types of the ecological pyramid which are the pyramid of Biomass, the pyramid of energy, and the pyramid of numbers. When the graphical presentation shows the amount of energy at different trophic levels then it is called the pyramid of energy. As the amount of energy gradually decreases at successive levels of the pyramid therefore it is always upward or erect.