Question

Write any two limitations of ecological pyramids.

Answer 1

Hint: In an ecosystem, different types of eating habits are exhibited by organisms. An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation that takes into account this feeding relationship among the organisms and places them at a different level with respect to each other.

Complete step by step answer:
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of different trophic levels of an ecosystem. The base of each pyramid represents the producers while the apex represents tertiary or high- level consumers with intermediate consumer trophic levels between. But there are some limitations attached to ecological pyramids which are as follows:
- An ecological pyramid assumes an ecosystem to be simple with few trophic levels in between the producers and the top consumer. It also does not take into account the interconnected food chains in a food web.
- It does not take into account or represent the species that may occupy more than two trophic levels. Like a sparrow may be a primary consumer when it eats seeds or nuts but it behaves as a secondary consumer when it feeds on small insects or worms.

Additional information:
Different trophic levels exist in an ecosystem depending upon the nature of the eating habits of the organism. They may be primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, or tertiary consumers.
- The first trophic level is always occupied by Primary producers.
- The second trophic level is formed by primary consumers. It includes herbivores.
- The third trophic level is occupied by secondary consumers. It includes carnivores.
- Tertiary consumers come under the fourth trophic level of the food chain and are constituted by the top carnivores.

Note:
- Three kinds of ecological pyramids are possible in an ecosystem:- Pyramid of numbers, the pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy.
- Pyramids of numbers and biomass can be inverted too in certain cases but the pyramid of energy is always upright.