Deline an Ecological Pyramid Write a note on three types of Ecologie<br />Pyramid
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Answer:
What is Ecological Pyramid?
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the relationship between the different living organisms at different trophic levels. It was given by G.Evylen Hutchinson and Raymond Lindeman.
It can be observed that these pyramids are in the shape of actual pyramids with the base being the broadest, which is covered by the lowest trophic level, i.e., producers. The next level is occupied by the next trophic level, i.e., the primary consumers and so on.
All the calculations for construction of these types of ecological pyramids must take into account all the organisms in a particular trophic level because a sample space of a few numbers or a few species will end up giving a huge level of errors.
Also Read: Ecology
Types of Ecological Pyramid
Three types of ecological pyramid exist. They are as follows:
Pyramid of Numbers
pyramid of numbers
Pyramid of Numbers
In this type of ecological pyramid, the number of organisms in each trophic level is considered as a level in the pyramid. The pyramid of numbers is usually upright except for some situations like that of the detritus food chain, where many organisms feed on one dead plant or animal.
Pyramid of Biomass
pyramid of biomass in oceans
Pyramid of Biomass
In this particular type of ecological pyramid, each level takes into account the amount of biomass produced by each trophic level. The pyramid of biomass is also upright except for that observed in oceans where large numbers of zooplanktons depend on a relatively smaller number of phytoplanktons.
Pyramid of Energy
pyramid of energy
Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid of energy is the only type of ecological pyramid, which is always upright as the energy flow in a food chain is always unidirectional. Also, with every increasing trophic level, some energy is lost into the environment.
Answer:
states that whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss energy through the release of heat. This occurs when energy is transferred between trophic levels as illustrated in a food web. When one animal feeds off another, there is a loss of heat (energy) in the process. Additional loss of energy occurs during respiration and movement. Hence, more and more energy is lost as one moves up through trophic levels. If this pyramid is inverterved, it would violate the law of thermodynamics. Hence the pyramid can never be inverted.
The pyramid of numbers depicts the relationship in terms of the number of producers, herbivores and the carnivores at their successive trophic levels. There is a decrease in the number of individuals from the lower to the higher trophic levels. The number pyramid varies from ecosystem to ecosystem. Since the amount if energy flowing through the system is not indicated, the pyramid can be inverted.
These are the diagrammatic illustrations of connection between different trophic levels in terms of energy, biomass and number of an organism. The base of each pyramid represents the producers or the first trophic level. Apex represents tertiary or top level consumers. If any species belongs to two or more trophic level, it can causes differences and issues in energy flow and numbers.
Saprophytes are organisms which feed on dead and decaying matter and these pyramid exhibit interaction between the living components and decomposers interact with dead organisms at all level. This makes it difficult to place it in the ecological pyramid. Hence, they are not given any place in ecological pyramids even though they play a vital role in the ecosystem.