Ecological Pyramids

Ecological pyramids are visual tools used to represent the relationship between organisms in an ecosystem. They consist of bars stacked to show the number of organisms or biomass at each trophic level. The base represents primary producers, followed by various consumer levels. Energy is transferred up the pyramid as organisms are consumed. Pyramids of numbers display the count of organisms, while pyramids of biomass show the total mass. These diagrams help illustrate the flow of energy and the structure of food chains and webs.

How does energy transfer occur in an ecological pyramid?

Explain the difference between pyramids of numbers and pyramids of biomass.

Describe how the mass of organisms affects the shape of a pyramid of biomass.

What do ecological pyramids visually represent in an ecosystem?

What does the width of the bars in a pyramid of numbers represent?