Question

Which type of pyramid shows the best efficiency of the ecosystem?
A. Pyramid of number
B. Pyramid of biomass
C. Pyramid of volume
D. Pyramid of energy

Answer 1

Hint: An ecological pyramid shows the relationships between various living things at various trophic levels graphically. It was delivered by Raymond Lindeman and G.Evylen Hutchinson. The species and environmental elements, including the quantity and distribution of nutrients in a certain habitat, make up the ecosystem's structure. It additionally provides details about the local climate.


Complete step by step solution:
An ecosystem's pyramid represents the graphical relationships between various living things. Based on the quantity of creatures, biomass of organisms, and amount of energy in each trophic level, there are three different types of ecological pyramids.

-Pyramid of Number
The number of species in each trophic level is taken into account as a level in this kind of ecological pyramid. The number pyramid is typically upright, with the exception of some circumstances like the detritus food chain, in which numerous species consume a single dead plant or animal.

-Pyramid of Biomas
Each level of this specific ecological pyramid considers the amount of biomass that each trophic level produces. With the exception of what is seen in oceans, where numerous zooplanktons depend on a relatively small number of phytoplanktons, the biomass pyramid is also vertical.

-Pyramid of Energy
The only ecological pyramid that is always upright is the pyramid of energy since the energy flow through a food chain is always unidirectional. Additionally, some energy is lost to the environment with each step up the trophic ladder.


The most effective way to describe the ecosystem is with the pyramid of production or energy. The pyramid illustrates the flow of energy from one level to another.

As a result, it is frequently used to describe several types of species, including producers, herbivores, carnivores, secondary carnivores, and predators.

Therefore option D, Pyramid of energy, is the correct answer.

Note: The lowest trophic level, or producers, are found at the base of these pyramids, which are visible to be in the shape of actual pyramids with the base being the broadest. The subsequent trophic level, i.e., the principal consumers and so on, resides on the following level.