Define ecological pyramid and describe pyramids of number and biomass.
Definition: An ecological pyramid is a graphical/mathematical representation of an ecological parameter, like a number or biomass or accumulated energy at different trophic levels in a food chain in an ecosystem. 1. Pyramid of number: The pyramid is the graphical/mathematical representation of a number of organisms present at each trophic level in a food chain of a particular ecosystem. When the number of organisms at successive levels are calculated mathematically and plotted, they assume the shape of a pyramid. This is called a pyramid of numbers. The base represents the number of producers whereas the tip is represented by top consumers; inverted pyramids can also be formed. In the given pyramid of the number, the number of producers (here grass and trees are the producers) will be far more than any other level. The number of consumers will be comparatively less than herbivores. You can guess if the number of carnivores increases and exceeds the herbivores then what the result will be? The figure shows an inverted pyramid and there you can see producer is one tree and dependents like primary and secondary consumers are many. Parasite insects of birds will be definitely more than the number of birds.
