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Ecological pyramids show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web.Which of the following statements are true in context of ecological pyramids?
  1. There are mainly three types of ecological pyramids
  2. Pyramid of numbers can be both upright and inverted
  3. Pyramid of Biomass can be both upright and inverted
  4. Pyramid of energy is always inverted                                                                                                               
  • a)
    All of the above
  • b)
    2, 3 and 4
  • c)
    1, 2 and 3
  • d)
    1, 3 and 4
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Ecological pyramids show the relative amount of energy or matter conta...
The correct answer is option 'C': 1, 2 and 3.

Ecological pyramids are graphical representations used to depict the relative amount of energy or biomass at each trophic level in a given food chain or food web. There are three main types of ecological pyramids: pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy.

1. Pyramid of Numbers:
- The pyramid of numbers represents the number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
- In some cases, the pyramid of numbers can be upright, where the number of organisms increases at higher trophic levels. This occurs when the producers (plants or algae) at the base of the food chain are small in size, but are consumed by a large number of herbivores.
- However, in some ecosystems, the pyramid of numbers can be inverted. This happens when the number of producers is limited, but they support a large number of consumers at higher trophic levels. For example, in a parasitic food chain, a large number of parasites can be supported by a smaller number of hosts.

2. Pyramid of Biomass:
- The pyramid of biomass represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
- Similar to the pyramid of numbers, the pyramid of biomass can be both upright and inverted.
- In an upright pyramid, the biomass increases at higher trophic levels, as each level consumes a larger amount of biomass from the level below it.
- In an inverted pyramid of biomass, the biomass decreases at higher trophic levels. This can occur when the biomass of producers is small, but they support a larger biomass of consumers. This can happen in aquatic ecosystems, where phytoplankton (producers) have a small biomass but support a larger biomass of zooplankton (consumers).

3. Pyramid of Energy:
- The pyramid of energy represents the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain or food web.
- The pyramid of energy is always upright, meaning that the amount of energy decreases at higher trophic levels.
- This is because energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes and is not fully transferred from one organism to another. As a result, there is less energy available to support the higher trophic levels.

In conclusion, the true statements in the context of ecological pyramids are:
1. There are mainly three types of ecological pyramids.
2. The pyramid of numbers can be both upright and inverted.
3. The pyramid of biomass can be both upright and inverted.
4. The pyramid of energy is always inverted.
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Ecological pyramids show the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a given food chain or food web.Which of the following statements are true in context of ecological pyramids? There are mainly three types of ecological pyramids Pyramid of numbers can be both upright and inverted Pyramid of Biomass can be both upright and inverted Pyramid of energy is always inverted a)All of the aboveb)2, 3 and 4c)1, 2 and 3d)1, 3 and 4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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