Bio 20 Im studying for my bio final and i need help on this question.?

Question

One way of representing the structure of an ecosystem is through ecological pyramids. Ecological pyramids represent the amount of organisms, biomass or energy at each tropic level, which most often is in a pyramidal shape. Why are most visual representations of ecosystems in the shape of a pyramid?

a.  At each trophic level, energy is lost (as heat) in the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another.
b. Very large carnivores (for example, sharks) have the most energy available.
c. Producers use a low amount of sunlight and produce a low amount of energy for all other organisms.
d. The large number of primary consumers supplies a large amount of energy for fewer herbivores.

JazSinc · Accepted Answer

Here's the answer your teacher wants:
a. At each trophic level, energy is lost (as heat) in the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another.

This is tremendously bogus.  The pyramids of numbers, biomass, energy fail almost every time -- in my opinion, the pyramid concept should not even be taught.

But yes, to pass your Bio20, your teacher wants you to learn the concept despite its bogosity.  Your teacher wants you to learn that each trophic level has only 10% of the energy that the next lower level had, and so will have 10% of the biomass and 10% of the number of individuals, ...

Anonymous · Answer

I would say the answer is (a)
Primary consumers get their energy directly from the sun through photosynthesis or by eating the plants that produce energy from photosynthesis. Secondary consumers get their energy from eating primary consumers, losing some energy in the process. And tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers, getting even less energy from their food.

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Bio 20 Im studying for my bio final and i need help on this question.?

2 Answers