Consider this ecological pyramid found in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Ecological pyramids are diagrams that are used to show how much energy, the number of organisms, or how much biomass may be found at each trophic level of all the food webs of a community. Note that the autotrophs are always placed at the base of the pyramid. Explain why the saprotrophs and detritivores are placed to one side of the pyramid.
A) Technically, they are not part of any food chain.
B) Saprotrophs and detritivores are not involved in the transfer of energy or matter in a food chain. They are what is called a dead end.
C) Nutrients and some of the energy from all other levels passes through the saprotrophs and detritivores when other levels die or leave wastes behind.
D) Although saprotrophs and detritivores are involved in the recycling process, they use none of the energy or matter that passes through the ecological pyramid.
Answers
Answer:
Consider this ecological pyramid found in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Ecological pyramids are diagrams that are used to show how much energy, the number of organisms, or how much biomass may be found at each trophic level of all the food webs of a community. Note that the autotrophs are always placed at the base of the pyramid. Explain why the saprotrophs and detritivores are placed to one side of the pyramid.
Consider this ecological pyramid found in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Ecological pyramids are diagrams that are used to show how much energy, the number of organisms, or how much biomass may be found at each trophic level of all the food webs of a community. Note that the autotrophs are always placed at the base of the pyramid. Explain why the saprotrophs and detritivores are placed to one side of the pyramid.
Answer:
C) Nutrients and some of the energy from all other levels passes through the saprotrophs and detritivores when other levels die or leave wastes behind.
Explanation: