Pyramid of energy - ecological pyramids, Biology

Assignment Help:

Pyramid of Energy - Ecological Pyramids

When we wish to compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem, an energy pyramid is probably the most informative. It overcomes some of the objections pertaining to the pyramid of numbers and biomass. An energy pyramid more accurately reflects the laws of thermo dynamics; with loss of energy being depicted at each transfer to another trophic level hence the pyramid is always upright. Energy pyramids in the case of aquatic ecosystem are also upright, even where the pyramid of biomass is inverted.

1124_Pyramid of Energy - Ecological Pyramids.png

Figure:  Pyramid of energy.

In energy pyramids, a given trophic level always has smaller energy content than the trophic level immediately below it. This is due to the fact that some energy is always lost as heat in going from one trophic level to the next. Each bar in the pyramid indicates the amount of energy utilised at each trophic level in a given time, annually per unit area. The unit of measurement is kcal/m2/yr.


Related Discussions:- Pyramid of energy - ecological pyramids

Horse diseases-japanese encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis The Japane...

Japanese encephalitis The Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-born flavivirus infection that causes encephalitis in human and equines and abortion in pigs, caused by Japanese

Buffers in foods, Some foods are better able to resist changes in pH than...

Some foods are better able to resist changes in pH than others. These tend to resist changes in pH since these are buffered and the ability to resist changes in pH is known as bu

Define ebb or shock phase - physiological response to injury, Define early ...

Define early ebb or shock phase - Physiological Response to injury? This is usually brief in duration lasting 12 to 24 hours and occurs immediately following injury. Blood pres

Embrylogical devlopment of hypospadias, Embrylogical Devlopment of Hypos...

Embrylogical Devlopment of Hypospadias The development of the penis and scrotum is intluenced by the testes. In the absence of the testes, the female structures of the

How does self infection by tapeworms occur, Q. How does self infection by t...

Q. How does self infection by tapeworms occur? The Taeniasis patients may develop the most severe form of the worm infection, cysticercosis, because their feces contain eggs

How are artificial and natural pearls created, Q. How are artificial and na...

Q. How are artificial and natural pearls created? Pearls are made from small strange particles that deposit between the mantle and the shell of the oyster. These particles trig

Steps involved in using bacteria to produce human insulin, Outline the step...

Outline the steps involved in using bacteria to produce human insulin. The gene for insulin is 'cut' from the appropriate strand of DNA using restriction enzymes. Plasmids are

State in brief about the zinc, State in brief about the Zinc    It is c...

State in brief about the Zinc    It is concerned with the functioning of sulphydryl compounds, such as cysteine, in regulation of redox potential within the cell. Zinc is somet

Reproduction and life cycles – protozoan, Reproduction and Life Cycles – Pr...

Reproduction and Life Cycles – Protozoan Asexual reproduction occurs in all protozoan through fission, budding and cyst formation. In this method the organism reproduces to fo

Why is the determination of the blood types of the donor, Why is the determ...

Why is the determination of the blood types of the donor and of the recipient important in transfusions? The Red blood cells have different antigens in the outer surface of the

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd