Why can't an energy pyramid be inverted?

Answer 1

The biomass of the primary producers is being consumed so fast (by the primary consumers) that the standing crop appears to be smaller that the primary consumer in a pyramid of biomass.

If the same data was plotted on an annual biomass ecological pyramid then the usual pattern would be oberved.

Answer 2

An energy pyramid cannot be inverted because energy is lost as it moves up the trophic levels. Producers, like plants, capture the most energy from the sun through photosynthesis. As this energy is transferred to herbivores, carnivores, and so on, some energy is always lost as heat. This creates a pyramid shape because each level supports less energy than the one below it.

Answer 3

is it possible to have an upside down primad

Answer 4

Energy pyramids are never inverted because producers are always the largest amounts of energy with the most amount of organisms. The top always has the largest organism.

Answer 5

Every time one organism feeds on another (energy moves to a higher level), the majority of the energy is lost, therefore less energy overall reaches the higher levels.

Answer 6

Because it would violate the law of conservation of energy.

Answer 7

Does any body know this answer

Answer 8

An energy pyramid cannot be inverted according to the law of conservation of energy. Actually, while quite strange, number and biomass pyramids can be inverted or semi inverted. In some aquatic biomass pyramids, phytoplankton, which die and reproduce rapidly, are smaller and have less biomass than a few levels higher (not completely inverted). This is why energy pyramids are more reliable than biomass and number