Which one of the following is not used for construction of ecological ...
Fresh weight is not used for the construction of ecological pyramids because the total fresh weight does not change into energy. Hence we can say that fresh weight is not continuous in the tropic levels.
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Which one of the following is not used for construction of ecological ...
Ecological Pyramids
Ecological pyramids are graphical representations of the trophic structure and energy flow within an ecosystem. They provide a visual representation of the relative amounts of energy or biomass at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
There are three types of ecological pyramids:
1. Pyramid of numbers: It represents the number of individuals at each trophic level.
2. Pyramid of biomass: It represents the total dry weight of organisms at each trophic level.
3. Pyramid of energy: It represents the total amount of energy present at each trophic level.
Construction of Ecological Pyramids
To construct ecological pyramids, various factors and parameters are taken into consideration. These include:
- Number of individuals
- Rate of energy flow
- Fresh weight
- Dry weight
Explanation of the Answer
The answer to the given question is option 'C' - Fresh weight. Fresh weight is not used for the construction of ecological pyramids.
Reasoning
Fresh weight refers to the weight of an organism or its parts when they are freshly harvested or collected. However, fresh weight is not a reliable measure for constructing ecological pyramids because it includes the weight of water content in the organism. Since water content can vary greatly between organisms and can change over time, it does not provide an accurate representation of the biomass or energy present at each trophic level.
Importance of Dry Weight
Dry weight, on the other hand, is the weight of an organism or its parts after all the water content has been removed. It provides a more accurate measure of the biomass and energy present in an organism. Dry weight is used to construct the pyramid of biomass, which represents the total dry weight of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
Conclusion
In summary, the construction of ecological pyramids involves considering factors such as the number of individuals, rate of energy flow, and dry weight. Fresh weight, which includes the weight of water content, is not used for constructing ecological pyramids as it does not provide an accurate representation of the biomass or energy present at each trophic level.