Energy in Ecosystems

Question 1

What are the 2 types of pyramid?

Answer 1

1. Pyramid of numbers

2. Pyramid of energy

Question 2

What does a pyramid of numbers show?

Answer 2

The total number of individual organisms at each level in the food chain of an ecosystem.

Question 3

How is a pyramid of numbers organised?

Answer 3

At the bottom on the pyramid there are lots of small organisms whereas at the top there are few, larger organisms.

Question 4

What causes few, large organisms at the top of the pyramid?

Answer 4

Because energy lost at each stage limits the numbers of organisms at each stage that can be supported.

Question 5

What does a pyramid of energy show?

Answer 5

The total quantity of available energy stored in the organisms at each level of a food chain of an ecosystem per year.

Question 6

For any chain, what stores the most energy?

Answer 6

Producers

Question 7

What pyramid is the most reliable and why?

Answer 7

Pyramids of energy because they have a regular pyramid shape.