Ecological Pyramids - Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecological pyramid?
A model that can describe various aspects of an ecosystem, including the flow of energy, the recycling of matter and the number of organisms at each trophic level.
What do energy pyramids show?
Energy pyramids show the amount of energy passed on to each trophic level in an ecosystem.
Are energy pyramids always the same shape? Why/why not?
They are always the same shape, because the amount of energy passed on from one trophic level to the next is more or less consistent.
What do pyramids of numbers show?
These pyramids indicate the population of organisms within each trophic level in a food chain.
What do pyramids of biomass show?
These pyramids show the dry mass of certain organisms in an ecosystem.
What are the three main types of ecological pyramids?
Energy pyramid, pyramid of numbers and pyramid of biomass.
