24 Questions
What is the concept given by Charles Elton in 1927 that represents the graphical representation of trophic structure and function of an ecosystem?
Ecological Pyramids
What is the arrangement of an ecological pyramid?
Producers at the bottom and proceeding through various trophic levels
What is an example of an upright pyramid of numbers?
Aquatic ecosystem
What is an example of an inverted pyramid of numbers?
Parasitic food chain
What are the three types of ecological pyramids?
Pyramid of number, Pyramid of biomass, and Pyramid of energy
What is the basis of an ecological pyramid?
Trophic structure and function of an ecosystem
What is the purpose of an ecological pyramid?
To represent the graphical representation of trophic structure and function of an ecosystem
What is the significance of ecological pyramids in understanding ecosystems?
To understand the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem
What is the graphical representation of the amount of energy per unit area at different trophic levels of a food chain?
Pyramid of energy
What is the term used to describe the circulation of chemical nutrients like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen through the biological and physical world?
Biogeochemical cycle
In the carbon cycle, how does carbon move from the atmosphere to plants?
Through photosynthesis
What is the term used to describe the movement of carbon from plants to animals?
Through food chains
What is the term used to describe the movement of carbon from plants and animals to the ground?
Decomposition
What is the graphical representation of the amount of energy per unit area at different trophic levels of a food chain, in an ecosystem like a forest?
Pyramid of energy
What is the biogeochemical cycle that involves the circulation of carbon through the biological and physical world?
Carbon cycle
What are the three compartments of the Earth involved in biogeochemical cycles?
Biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere/hydrosphere
What is an upright pyramid of number in an ecosystem?
An upright pyramid of number is one where the number of organisms in each trophic level decreases as you move up the pyramid.
What is an example of an ecosystem that exhibits an inverted pyramid of biomass?
An aquatic ecosystem, such as a pond or lake.
What is the difference between a pyramid of number and a pyramid of biomass?
A pyramid of number represents the number of organisms at each trophic level, while a pyramid of biomass represents the total amount of living matter at each trophic level.
What is the typical shape of a pyramid of biomass in a forest ecosystem?
Upright
What is an example of an organism that would be at the base of a pyramid of number in a grassland ecosystem?
Grass
What is the significance of an inverted pyramid of biomass?
It indicates that the combined weight of consumers is greater than the combined weight of producers.
What is the relationship between the number of organisms and the amount of biomass in an ecosystem?
The number of organisms does not necessarily reflect the amount of biomass, as smaller organisms can have a larger total biomass than larger organisms.
What is the purpose of constructing ecological pyramids?
To visualize and understand the structure and function of ecosystems.
Study Notes
Ecological Pyramids
- An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the trophic structure and function of an ecosystem.
- It can be upright or inverted, and there are three types: pyramid of number, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy.
Pyramid of Number
- A graphical representation of the arrangement of the number of individuals per unit area at different trophic levels of a food chain in an ecosystem.
- Can be upright or inverted.
- Example of an upright pyramid: aquatic ecosystem, where the number of organisms becomes fewer and fewer higher up in the pyramid.
- Example of an inverted pyramid: parasitic food chain, where the number of organisms depending on the lower levels grows closer toward the apex.
Pyramid of Biomass
- A graphical representation of the total amount of living or organic matter in an ecosystem at any time, per unit area, in different trophic levels.
- Can be upright or inverted.
- Example of an upright pyramid: forest ecosystem, where the combined weight of producers is larger than the combined weight of consumers.
- Example of an inverted pyramid: aquatic ecosystem, where the combined weight of producers is smaller than the combined weight of consumers.
Pyramid of Energy
- A graphical representation of the amount of energy per unit area at different trophic levels of a food chain.
- Always upright, with a gradual decrease in energy at successive trophic levels.
- Example: forest ecosystem.
Biogeochemical Cycles
- The circulation of chemical nutrients like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water through the biological and physical world.
- Involves biological, geological, and chemical factors.
- Elements are recycled, with some cycles having reservoirs where the element is accumulated or held for a long period of time.
Carbon Cycle
- Carbon is an element that moves through the atmosphere, oceans, rocks, soil, and all living things.
- Carbon dioxide is pulled from the air to make plant food through photosynthesis.
- Carbon moves from plants to animals through food chains, and from plants and animals to the ground.
Learn about the graphical representation of energy levels in a food chain, where energy decreases at each trophic level. Explore an example of a forest ecosystem.
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