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Which of the following representations shows the pyramid of numbers in a forest ecosystem?
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A
D
B
A
C
B
D
C
Detailed Solution
A pyramid of numbers shows the number of individuals at each successive trophic level, with the producers at the base.
In most ecosystems the producers are more numerous than the herbivores, and the herbivores more numerous than the carnivores, so the pyramid is upright: broadest at the base and narrowing towards the top.
The answer accepted in the key is the upright pyramid, labelled B, taking the forest as a whole with its large number of producers.
The pyramid of numbers becomes inverted only when a single large tree is considered as the ecosystem, since one tree supports many insects and birds.
In most ecosystems the producers are more numerous than the herbivores, and the herbivores more numerous than the carnivores, so the pyramid is upright: broadest at the base and narrowing towards the top.
The answer accepted in the key is the upright pyramid, labelled B, taking the forest as a whole with its large number of producers.
The pyramid of numbers becomes inverted only when a single large tree is considered as the ecosystem, since one tree supports many insects and birds.