Ecological pyramids
We can compare the trophic levels in a food chain using ecological pyramids.
Pyramid of numbers
A pyramid of numbers allows to compare the number of organisms present in each trophic level at a particular time.
Pyramid of biomass
A pyramid of biomass allows us to compare the mass of organisms present in each trophic level at a particular time.
Variations in ecological pyramids
Most ecological pyramids are pyramid-shaped, but there are important exceptions.
A pyramid of numbers may be upside down or inverted if organisms of one trophic level or many small organisms of another trophic level feed on large organism of another trophic level. In this case, the pyramid of numbers is inverted.
Pyramids of biomass for rapidly reproducing organisms are also not pyramid-shaped. Since the pyramid of biomass is based on standing mass, it does not take into account the rate of reproduction of organisms.
Pyramid of energy
The total energy in the various trophic levels of a food chain can be represent in the form of a pyramid. This is called the pyramid of energy.
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