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प्रश्न
“It is often said that the pyramid of energy is always upright. On the other hand, the pyramid of biomass can be both upright and inverted.” Explain with the help if examples and sketches.
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उत्तर
Pyramid of energy is a graphical representation of amount of accumulated energy per unit area in different trophic levels of a food chain. An energy pyramid is always upright because there is a gradual decrease in energy at successive trophic levels. This happens according to the 10% law of energy transfer, where only 10% of the total energy is transferred from one trophic level to another. The energy is the highest at the producer level, and it gradually decreases on moving from herbivores to carnivores.
Pyramid of biomass is a graphic representation of biomass present per unit area in different trophic levels. It can be both upright and inverted. Examples: In a grassland forest ecosystem, there is a gradual decrease in biomass of organisms at successive trophic levels from producers to top carnivores which shows a straight or upright pyramid.
In a pond ecosystem, the pyramid is inverted as there is a gradual increase in biomass of organisms at successive trophic levels from producers to top carnivores. The producers are the smallest organisms, while the carnivores are larger in size.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
In an ecosystem dominated by trees, the pyramid (of numbers) is ______ type.
“The pyramid of biomass is not always upright.” Explain the statement.
Answer the following question.
Write any two limitations of ecological pyramids.
Give an example of an ecosystem that shows an inverted pyramid of numbers.
Pyramid of energy in grassland and pond ecosystem is always ______.
Organisms at a higher trophic level have less energy available. Comment.
What are the shortcomings of ecological pyramids in the study of ecosystems?
What are the three types of ecological pyramids? What information is conveyed by each pyramid with regard to structure, function and energy in the ecosystem?
(a) Given below is a pyramid of biomass in an ecosystem where each bar represents the standing crop available in the trophic level. With the help of an example explain the conditions where this kind of pyramid is possible in nature.
(b) Will the pyramid of energy be also of the same shape in this situation? Give a reason for your response.
The biomass of a standing crop of phytoplankton is 4 kg/m2, which supports a large standing crop of zooplankton having a biomass of 11 kg/m2. This is consumed by small fishes having a biomass of 25 kg/m2, which are then consumed by large fishes with a biomass of 37 kg/m2.
Draw an ecological pyramid indicating the biomass at each stage and also name the trophic levels. Mention whether it is an upright or inverted pyramid.
