Ecological Pyramids Ecological pyramid Types of pyramid Pyramid of numbers Pyramid of biomass Pyramid of energy The use of Ecological Pyramid was first described by Charles Elton in 1927. Ecological Pyramids are graphical representation of the number of individual present or amount of biomass synthesized or amount of energy stored at successive trophic levels in an ecosystem.

2. Content
• Ecological pyramid
• Types of pyramid
• Pyramid of numbers
• Pyramid of biomass
• Pyramid of energy

3. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID
The use of Ecological Pyramid was first described by
Charles Elton in 1927.
 Ecological Pyramids are graphical representation of
the number of individual present or amount of biomass
synthesized or amount of energy stored at successive
trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Ecological Pyramids are starting with producers at the
base and successive trophic levels forming the apex is
known as an Ecological pyramid.

4. TYPES OF PYRAMID
PYRAMID
OF
NUMBERS
PYRAMID
OF
BIOMASS
PYRAMID
OF
ENERGY
UPRIGHT UPRIGHT
ALWAYS
UPRIGHT
INVERTED INVERTED

5. Graphical representation of numerical
strength of various populations in
different trophic levels per unit area of
an ecosystem.
Usually upright.
Inverted and spindle shaped only in
some parasitic food chain and tree
ecosystem.

6. Pyramid of numbers
In most of the ecosystem,
1. number of individual is generally
maximum at the producer level.
2. the number of herbivores is lesser than
the producers.
3. the number of carnivores is lesser than
the herbivores.

7. Pyramid of numbers
TOP
CARNIVO
RES
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
PRODUCER
In Cropland and
Grassland Ecosystem
In a Pond Ecosystem
 GRASSES
 INSECTS
 LIZARDS
 HAWKS
PHYTO
-PLANKTON 
ZOOPLANKTON 
SMALL FISHES 
LARGE FISHES 

8. Pyramid of numbers
 The pyramid of number in a Parasitic Food Chain
is inverted.
HYPER PARASITES
PARASITES
HERBIVORES
PRODUCER
 FLEAS, MICROBES
 LICE, BUGS
 BIRDS
 TREES

9.  The pyramid of number of a tree ecosystem is
spindle-shaped.
PRODUCER
HERBIVORES
CARNIVORES
TOP
CARNIVORE
S
 LION, TIGER
 SNAKES, FOXES, LIZARDS
 INSECTS, BIRDS
 TREES

10. Biomass is the total weight of living
matter per unit area.
In terrestrial ecosystem, Biomass
decreases from the producer level to the
consumer level. So, the pyramid of
biomass of terrestrial ecosystem is
upright.

11. TOP
CARNIVOR
ES
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
PRODUCER
In terrestrial ecosystem
 GRASSES
 INSECTS
 LIZARDS
 HAWKS
Pyramid of biomass

12. Pyramid of biomass
In aquatic ecosystem
producer are small
organisms, so their
biomass is less. The
primary and secondary
consumers are bigger, so
their biomass is more.
Therefore pyramid of
biomass of aquatic
ecosystems are inverted.
TOP
CARNIVORES
CARNIVORES
HERBIV
ORES
PRODUC
ER
PHYTOPLANKTON 
ZOOPLANKTON 
SMALL
FISHES 
LARGE
FISHES 

13. Pyramid of energy
 In an ecosystem energy flows from the producer level
to the consumer levels.
 During energy flow 80-90% of energy lost at each
trophic level and only 10% of energy is transferred to
the next trophic level.
 Therefore pyramid of energy is always upright.

14. Pyramid of energy
TOP
CARNIVORES
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
PRODUCER

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