What is the difference between the pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass and pyramid of energy?

Question

HIX Tutor · Accepted Answer

undefined Sure! Here’s the difference in simple steps:

1. **Pyramid of Numbers**:
   - Shows how many living things (organisms) are in each level.
   - Bottom has many small things (like grass).
   - Top has few big things (like lions).

2. **Pyramid of Biomass**:
   - Shows the total weight of living things at each level.
   - Bottom has lots of weight from plants.
   - Top has less weight from big animals.

3. **Pyramid of Energy**:
   - Shows how much energy is used at each level.
   - Bottom gets energy from the sun (plants).
   - Each level above gets less energy because some is lost.

So, the main differences are what they show: numbers, weight, and energy!

Julia Acosta · Answer

The names explain the purpose: pyramids are graphical representation of different aspects of ecosystem. Pyramid of energy is always upright which may not be so for pyramid of numbers or pyramid of biomass.

Energy pyramid depicts flow of energy in the ecosystem: source of all energy in ecosystem is the SUN. Producers are only organisms in ecosystem who can trap the solar enrgy. So base of energy pyramid is always wide.

Now let us see a pyramid of numbers which depicts the number of individual organisms per trophic level: in an orchard producers are some large trees, but the trees will support a large number of consumers, such as insects and birds. A pyramid of numbers in such ecosystem will be inverted as seen in the following illustration:

A biomass pyramid shows the total dry mass of all living organisms at each trophic level. An inverted pyramid of biomass could be seen when we study aquatic ecosystems, like a lake. The phytoplanktons at a given time is less in biomass but their lifecycle is very short; they actually reproduce faster than the consumers dependent on them.

Cora Andrews · Answer

undefined The pyramid of numbers represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem, while the pyramid of biomass illustrates the total mass of organisms at each trophic level. The pyramid of energy shows the flow of energy through the trophic levels, with each level typically containing less energy than the one below it due to energy loss through metabolic processes.