What is an ecological pyramid? Ecology means something related to the environment. A pyramid is a three dimensional triangular shape. So, an ecological pyramid is a way of visualizing the environment using a pyramid like model.
An ecological pyramid is a way of visualizing an ecosystem. An ecosystem is a system of organisms that all live together and interact in a given environment - for instance, in a pond or in a rain-forest.
In an ecological pyramid, the ecosystem is divided into hierarchical levels known as trophic levels. Analyzing the various levels of an ecological pyramid tells us:
- What the structure of the food chain is.
- Which organisms get their energy from other organisms.
- How many organisms there are at each level.
- How much biomass there is at each level.
- How much energy is used up at each level.
Types of ecological pyramid: There are three main types of ecological pyramid.
- Pyramid of numbers: how many organisms exist at each level of the ecosystem?
- Pyramid of energy: how much energy is used and produced at each level?
- Pyramid of biomass: how much biomass is there at each level?
Conclusion: An ecological pyramid is a handy tool for analyzing any ecosystem.
Laura