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Pyramid of productivity

An ecological pyramid of productivity is often more useful, showing the production or turnover of biomass at each trophic level. Instead of showing a single snapshot in time, productivity pyramids show the flow of energy through the food chain. Typical units would be grams per meter2 per year or calories per meter2 per year. As with the others, this graph begins with producers at the bottom and places higher trophic levels on top.

When an ecosystem is healthy, this graph produces a standard ecological pyramid. This is because in order for the ecosystem to sustain itself, there must be more energy at lower trophic levels than there is at higher trophic levels. This allows for organisms on the lower levels to not only maintain a stable population, but to also transfer energy up the pyramid. The exception to this generalization is when portions of a food web are supported by inputs of resources from outside of the local community. In small, forested streams, for example gone up greater than could be supported by the local primary production.

When energy is transferred to the next trophic level, typically only 10%[citation needed] of it is used to build new biomass, becoming stored energy (the rest going to metabolic processes). As such, in a pyramid of productivity each step will be 10% the size of the previous step (100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01)[citation needed].

The advantages of the pyramid of productivity:

It takes account of the rate of production over a period of time.

Two species of comparable biomass may have very different life spans. Therefore their relative biomasses is misleading, but their productivity is directly comparable.

The relative energy chain within an ecosystem can be compared using pyramids of energy; also different ecosystems can be compared.

There are no inverted pyramids.

The input of solar energy can be added.

The disadvantages of the pyramid of productivity:

The rate of biomass production of an organism is required, which involves measuring growth and reproduction through time.

There is still the difficulty of assigning the organisms to a specific trophic level. As well as the organism in the food chains there is the problem of assigning the decomposers and detritivores to a particular trophic level.

Nonetheless, productivity pyramids usually provide more insight into an ecological community when the necessary information is available.

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What are the similarities and differences between ecological pyramid of Incorporated of biomass and pyramid of numbers for coniferous forest?

The ecological pyramid of biomass and the pyramid of numbers both illustrate the structure of a coniferous forest ecosystem but focus on different aspects. The pyramid of biomass represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level, typically showing a larger base of producers (like trees) and diminishing biomass as you move up to herbivores and carnivores. In contrast, the pyramid of numbers counts the individual organisms at each level, which can sometimes appear inverted, particularly if a single tree supports many herbivores. Both pyramids highlight the relationships between different trophic levels, but the pyramid of biomass gives a clearer picture of energy transfer and ecosystem productivity.


What are the concept of an ecological pyramid?

The ecological pyramid is basically the food chain. So, the producers (plants) are at the bottom, then herbivores (plant eaters), then above them are the omnivores or carnivores, and then the most powerful and top of the food chain animals are at the top of the pyramid.


What is a not an example of energy pyramid?

A housing estate is not an example of an energy pyramid. A diamond ring is not an example of an energy pyramid. A cloud is not an example of an energy pyramid.


The biggest pyramid?

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is the largest pyramid in the world. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu and is an iconic symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization. It stands at a height of 138.8 meters.


What are the 3 types of food pyramids?

The three types of food pyramids are the traditional food pyramid, the Mediterranean food pyramid, and the Asian food pyramid. Each pyramid emphasizes different food groups and proportions based on cultural dietary patterns.

Related Questions

What is the name of the second pyramid's?

The Pyramid of Khafre The Pyramid of Khafre


What are the similarities and differences between ecological pyramid of Incorporated of biomass and pyramid of numbers for coniferous forest?

The ecological pyramid of biomass and the pyramid of numbers both illustrate the structure of a coniferous forest ecosystem but focus on different aspects. The pyramid of biomass represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level, typically showing a larger base of producers (like trees) and diminishing biomass as you move up to herbivores and carnivores. In contrast, the pyramid of numbers counts the individual organisms at each level, which can sometimes appear inverted, particularly if a single tree supports many herbivores. Both pyramids highlight the relationships between different trophic levels, but the pyramid of biomass gives a clearer picture of energy transfer and ecosystem productivity.


What type of pyramid is the Giza pyramid?

A pyramid....


Why is the face other than the base on a pyramid always triangular?

That is how a pyramid is defined!That is how a pyramid is defined!That is how a pyramid is defined!That is how a pyramid is defined!


What are some famous pyramids?

The Great Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, and all of the pyramids of Giza. Even the Step Pyramid is famous. * Great Pyramid * Step Pyramid * Bent Pyramid * Red Pyramid


Out of the three Giza pyramids which one is the largest?

The Pyramid of Khufu - also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or the Great Pyramid of Giza.


How many flat surfaces do a pyramid has?

It depends on what type of pyramid. Their is an square pyramid, a rectangular pyramid, a pentagonal pyramid, etc.


What can you conclude based on the 2 pyramids?

That a pyramid is not unique.That a pyramid is not unique.That a pyramid is not unique.That a pyramid is not unique.


What is a triangular pyramid?

In geometry, pyramid has many forms such as rectangular pyramid, trapezoidal pyramid, quadrilateral pyramid and even triangular pyramid. Triangular pyramid is a pyramid with triangular base and can be called as a tetrahedron if each of its faces has congruent equilateral triangles.


Is the Pyramid of Kufu the smallest pyramid of the Great Pyramid?

The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest of the three Pyramids of Giza a.k.a the Great Pyramid.


What can reduce productivity?

Indiscipline reduces productivity.


What are two names of the great pyramid?

The Great Pyramid of Giza, Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The great pyramid of Khufu and the great pyramid of Cheops (the greek version of khufu).