y ~ x AYESHA S$ ie yeCale . DEFINATION OF PYRAMIDS a TYPES OF PYRAMIDS . FUNCTION OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS . IMPORTANCE OF PYRAMIDSHAT ARE ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS? 48, DEFINATION An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the relationship between the different living organisms at different trophic levels. Charles Elton developed the concept of the pyramid of numbers. Later, G.Evylen Hutchinson and Raymond Lindeman developed the idea of the pyramid of energy or productivity. It can be observed that these pyramids are in the shape of actual pyramids, with the base being the broadest, which is covered by the lowest trophic level, i.e., producers. The next level is occupied by ) the next trophic level, i.e., the primary consumers and so on. ) aTYPES OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS N $ Pyramid of Energy te = Pyramid of Biomass 4 AW, GQ eyramidloe Numberser “ SW PYRAMID OF ENERGY SR Pyramid of energy is the only type of ecological pyramid, which is always upright as the energy flow in a food chain is always unidirectional. Also, with every increasing trophic level, some energy is lost into the environment.“10% Rule” Aprox. 1036 f the energy "harvested" at lower tropiclevelis a transferred up tothe next higher tropic level ‘pen predato Tropic Level (/ an Producers-Autotophs-Photosynthesiers Decomposesdetritvores) The Energy - Food PyramidPYRAMID OF BIOMASS In this particular type of ecological pyramid, each level takes into account the amount of biomass produced by each trophic level. The pyramid of biomass is also upright except for that observed in oceans tag, P where large numbers of zooplanktons depend on a relatively smaller number of phytoplanktonsLarge fishes Tertiary consumers Small fishes L- Secondary consumers Zooplanktons Primary consumers Phytoplanktones ee Producers Fig : Pyramid of biomass in aquatic ecosystem Fig : Pyramid of biomass in forest ecosystemIn this type of ecological pyramid, the number of organisms in each trophic level is considered as a level in the pyramid. The pyramid of numbers is usually upright except for some situations like that of the detritus food chain, where many organisms feed on one dead plant or animal.Large birds (TC) Small Birds (SC) Insects (PC) One big tree (P) Fig : Pyramid of number on a tree ecosystemI Ne ST FUNCTIONS SR Ecological pyramids function to illustrate relationships between trophic levels within an ecosystem. By turning observations into a graphical representation, the breakdown of ecosystem properties can be easily observed. Despite the term "ecological pyramid," these illustrations are not always triangular.IMPORTANCE The importance of ecological pyramid can be explained in the following points: * They show the feeding of different organisms in different ecosystems. * It shows the efficiency of energy transfer. * The condition of the ecosystem can be monitored, and any further damage can be prevented.Sl WS ? QUIZZ TIME q dv, Answer to the questions vs WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS? 2. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM ECosysTEM? 3, WHAT IS THE 10% LAW? e 4. WHICH PYRAMIDS ARE ALWAYS UPRIGHT? 5. WHY ARE THERE LESS NUMBER OF ORGANISMS AT THE TOP-MosT OF THE PYRAMIDS? mw