Biological Pyramids are a way of classifying animals in a particular habitat or ecosystem. They are classified in pyramids because they go from the largest to the smallest, larger on bottom smaller on top. There are three different biological pyramids: Pyramid of numbers, Pyramid of energy, and the Pyramid of biomass.
Pyramid of Numbers
This pyramid shows the population on each trophic level. The greatest amount is always at the bottom and is always the producer, next is the primary consumer, the tertiary consumer, the quaternary consumer, and the lowest population is the top predator. There will always be a gradual decrease in the numbers due to the decrease of energy (see Pyramid of Energy) in the upper trophic levels of the pyramid
Pyramid of Energy
The Pyramid of Energy shows the amount of energy that flows through an ecosystem. This pyramid is almost always identical to the Pyramid of Numbers. The lower part, as always, is the producers and the top is the top predator. This is because the producers get their energy directly from sunlight (in most cases). After that the amount of energy decreases to ten percent of the energy in the previous trophic level. This is because ninety percent of the energy is lost as heat or radiation in the atmosphere. This is why the higher you go on the food chain the more an animal needs to eat which means the less of that animal you’ll find. Also omnivores may get more energy even though they are in higher trophic levels. This is because they can eat plants and get more energy from them
Pyramid of Biomass
The Pyramid of Biomass is the pyramid that describes the weight of a trophic level. Since there is the most of producers it stands to reason that they would be at the bottom and the top predator at the top. This is because there is such a significant amount of lower trophic level organisms that there is more weight.
Pyramid of Numbers
This pyramid shows the population on each trophic level. The greatest amount is always at the bottom and is always the producer, next is the primary consumer, the tertiary consumer, the quaternary consumer, and the lowest population is the top predator. There will always be a gradual decrease in the numbers due to the decrease of energy (see Pyramid of Energy) in the upper trophic levels of the pyramid
Pyramid of Energy
The Pyramid of Energy shows the amount of energy that flows through an ecosystem. This pyramid is almost always identical to the Pyramid of Numbers. The lower part, as always, is the producers and the top is the top predator. This is because the producers get their energy directly from sunlight (in most cases). After that the amount of energy decreases to ten percent of the energy in the previous trophic level. This is because ninety percent of the energy is lost as heat or radiation in the atmosphere. This is why the higher you go on the food chain the more an animal needs to eat which means the less of that animal you’ll find. Also omnivores may get more energy even though they are in higher trophic levels. This is because they can eat plants and get more energy from them
Pyramid of Biomass
The Pyramid of Biomass is the pyramid that describes the weight of a trophic level. Since there is the most of producers it stands to reason that they would be at the bottom and the top predator at the top. This is because there is such a significant amount of lower trophic level organisms that there is more weight.