Say whether each pyramid is upright or inverted at the base, or whether it cannot be inverted…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Say whether each pyramid is upright or inverted at the base, or whether it cannot be inverted.
- The pyramid of number of a grassland.
- The pyramid of biomass of a sea, in which the fishes have a larger biomass than the phytoplankton.
- The pyramid of energy of any ecosystem.
- The pyramid of number of one large tree with many insects.
- The pyramid of biomass of a forest on land.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
The pyramids of number, biomass and energy have the producers at the base. The pyramid of number of a tree and the pyramid of biomass of the sea can be inverted. The pyramid of energy is always upright. Production in a year is the biomass times the turnover.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Upright. Many grass plants support fewer herbivores.
Step 2. (b) Inverted. The base (the phytoplankton) has a smaller biomass than the level above.
Step 3. (c) It is always upright and cannot be inverted.
Step 4. (d) Inverted at the base. One tree supports many insects.
Step 5. (e) Upright. The producers have the largest biomass.
Answer: (a) upright; (b) inverted; (c) always upright; (d) inverted at the base; (e) upright.
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