Overview
Ecological pyramids are essential tools in ecology that help visualize the relationships between different trophic levels in an ecosystem. They come in three main types: energy pyramids, biomass pyramids, and pyramids of numbers, each providing unique insights into the flow of energy, the distributi...
Key Terms
Example: Producers are at the first trophic level.
Example: Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next level.
Example: The biomass of plants is usually greater than that of herbivores.
Example: A forest is a type of ecosystem.
Example: Plants are primary producers.
Example: Herbivores are primary consumers.
Related Topics
Food Chains
The linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
intermediateTrophic Levels
The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by how organisms obtain energy.
intermediateEcosystem Dynamics
The study of how ecosystems change and develop over time, including interactions among organisms.
advancedNutrient Cycling
The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.
intermediateKey Concepts
Energy PyramidBiomass PyramidPyramid of NumbersTrophic Levels