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Consider the following statements with respect to Ecological Pyramid
1. The pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted.
2. The pyramid of energy in any ecosystem can never be inverted.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 Only
  • b)
    2 Only
  • c)
    Both 1 and 2
  • d)
    Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following statements with respect to Ecological Pyramid1...
The Correct answer is Both 1 and 2.
Important Points
  • In most ecosystems, all the pyramids, of number, of energy and biomass are upright, i.e., producers are more in number and biomass than the herbivores, and herbivores are more in number and biomass than the carnivores. Also, energy at a lower trophic level is always more than at a higher level.
  • However, there are exceptions to this generalization: The pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted because the biomass of fishes far exceeds that of phytoplankton.
  • Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • A pyramid of energy is always upright and can never be inverted. When energy flows from a particular trophic level to the next trophic level, some energy is always lost as heat at each step. Each bar in the energy pyramid indicates the amount of energy present at each trophic level in a given time or annually per unit area.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
Free Test
Community Answer
Consider the following statements with respect to Ecological Pyramid1...
Ecological Pyramid
The ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the flow of energy or biomass through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. It helps us understand the structure and dynamics of an ecosystem and the relationships between different organisms within it. There are three types of ecological pyramids: the pyramid of numbers, the pyramid of biomass, and the pyramid of energy.

Statement 1: The pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted.
The pyramid of biomass represents the total amount of living organisms (biomass) at each trophic level in an ecosystem. It shows the decreasing amount of biomass as we move from lower to higher trophic levels. In most ecosystems, the pyramid of biomass is upright, meaning the biomass decreases from the producer level to the top carnivore level.

However, in the sea, the pyramid of biomass can be inverted. This is because the biomass of phytoplankton (primary producers) in the sea is much smaller compared to the biomass of zooplankton (primary consumers) that feed on them. This is due to the rapid turnover and high reproductive rate of phytoplankton, which results in a higher number of individuals but lower biomass. As a result, the biomass of primary consumers (zooplankton) can be greater than the biomass of primary producers (phytoplankton), leading to an inverted pyramid of biomass.

Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2: The pyramid of energy in any ecosystem can never be inverted.
The pyramid of energy represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. It shows the decreasing amount of energy as we move from lower to higher trophic levels. Since energy is lost as heat at each trophic level, the pyramid of energy is always upright, with the highest amount of energy at the producer level and the lowest amount at the top carnivore level.

Energy flow is governed by the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the second law, which states that energy always flows from areas of high energy to areas of low energy. Therefore, energy cannot be inverted in an ecosystem, and the pyramid of energy can never be inverted.

Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Conclusion:
Both statements 1 and 2 are correct. The pyramid of biomass in the sea can be inverted due to the smaller biomass of phytoplankton compared to zooplankton. However, the pyramid of energy can never be inverted as energy always flows from areas of high energy to areas of low energy according to the laws of thermodynamics.
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Consider the following statements with respect to Ecological Pyramid1. The pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted.2. The pyramid of energy in any ecosystem can never be inverted.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 Onlyb)2 Onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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