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.