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Ecological Pyramids

The document outlines three types of ecological pyramids: numbers, biomass, and energy, each representing different aspects of trophic levels in ecosystems. It discusses the construction and utility of these pyramids for comparing communities and monitoring changes, as well as the inefficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels. Additionally, it describes the roles of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers in energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.

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31 views20 pages

Ecological Pyramids

The document outlines three types of ecological pyramids: numbers, biomass, and energy, each representing different aspects of trophic levels in ecosystems. It discusses the construction and utility of these pyramids for comparing communities and monitoring changes, as well as the inefficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels. Additionally, it describes the roles of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers in energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.

Uploaded by

phillimonkabelo4
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

Types of ecological pyramids

Pyramid of numbers: represents


numbers of individuals at each trophic
level

Pyramid of biomass: represents biomass


(amount of matter) at each trophic level

Pyramid of energy: represents energy


available at each trophic level
Pyramid of numbers Pyramid of biomass

Pyramid of energy
▪ Constructing an ecological pyramid:
- Sort organisms into their respective
trophic levels
- Quantify each trophic level

- Represent each trophic level with a bar


. all bars should be of equal height
. base of pyramid is lowest trophic level
. topmost bar is highest trophic level

- Use the length of the bars to compare


trophic levels, communities, ecosystems
▪ Ecological pyramids are useful in:

. comparing communities, habitats


or ecosystems

. monitoring changes within a


community, habitat or ecosystem
PYRAMID OF NUMBERS
▫ Easy to understand
Simply represents numbers of individuals in
each trophic level

▫ Don’t have to kill organisms

▫ All organisms have same status irrespective


of size or biomass or rate of production

▫ Neither amount of energy available nor


production at each trophic level is shown
PYRAMID OF NUMBERS
May be upright May be inverted
(broader at the base) (broader at higher trophic
levels)
PYRAMID OF BIOMASS
▫ Can be used to compare biomass between
habitats or communities

▫ Usually dry mass is used

▫ May be destructive (may involve killing or


damage to organisms)

▫ Neither amount of energy available nor


production at each trophic level is shown
PYRAMID OF BIOMASS
May be upright May be inverted
▪ PYRAMID OF ENERGY
▫ Cannot be inverted
. As energy flows along the food
chain, it is changed from one form
into the other,
but no additional energy is created

. Energy is lost when converted


from one form into another

Energy available decreases up


the trophic levels (2 Law of Thermodynamics)
nd
Pyramid of Energy (cont’d)
▫ Rate of production taken into account

▫ Can be used to compare


. Relative importance of species in a
community with regard to rate of
production

. Efficiency of energy transfer through


trophic levels
Can then use the efficiency to compare
ecosystems or habitats
Efficiency is important in determining
the length (number of trophic levels) of
a food chain
Sketch a pyramid of numbers, biomass and energy for
the food chain:
Grass → Rhinoceros → Ticks → Oxpecker
ENERGY FLOW AND NUTRIENT CYCLING IN
ECOSYSTEMS
q There are four important levels in most food chains:

Producers: Organisms which convert some of the energy from the


sun into stored chemical energy (usually plants).

Primary consumers: Organisms that obtain energy by consuming


producers. They are herbivores.

Secondary consumers: Organisms which obtain energy by


consuming primary consumers. They are carnivores.

Decomposers: These organisms form the end point of every food


chain. They are bacteria or fungi that obtain their energy by
breaking down dead organisms from the other trophic levels.
Transfer of energy between trophic levels
§ Transfer of energy between trophic levels is rela=vely
inefficient.
§ Energy is transferred from one trophic level to another
as organisms are consumed.
§ It is generally accepted that only around 10% of the
energy gained from the previous trophic level is passed
on to the next level.
§ All other energy is lost as heat, urine, faeces &
respira=on.
§ This limits the number of trophic levels in any food
chain.
§ The further up the food chain, the fewer the organisms
that can be supported.

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