The trophic levels of an ecosystem are typically shaped like a pyramid because:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To tackle the question, we first recall the basic reason ecosystems form pyramid-shaped trophic levels: energy diminishes as it moves up each level.
Option 1: 'There are just too many plants in the world.' This is not a reason for the pyramid shape; plant abundance does not directly explain the energy transfer inefficiency between levels.
Option 2: 'Pyramids feel more stable than squares.' This is a perceptual or geometric statement with no relation to ecological energy transfer or trophic dynamics.
Option 3: 'There is less energy available at the apex of the pyramid, due to energy loss at each trophic level.' This aligns with ecological principles: only a fraction of energy is transferred to the next level (often ~10%), with the rest lost as heat, moving, and metabolic processes, leading to fewer organisms and less energy at the top.
Option 4: 'There is more energy gained with each trophic level, feeding those few, large, hungry predators at the top.' This contradicts the energy transfer concept; energy gained at each successive level does not increase, it decreases, which is why top predators are limited in number and biomass.

ENVIR 100 (Sp25) Exam 3

The trophic levels of an ecosystem are typically shaped like a pyramid because:

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Sort from higher (1) to lower (4) levels of energy for the following organisms in a given trophic web. 1: 1 2: 2 3: 3 4: 4

About .001 of the energy captured by photosynthesis passes through to __________.

Energy available in an ecosystem is usually depicted in the shape of a pyramid. The tip of this pyramid represents which group of organisms?

A species which main source of energy originates from autotrophs is referred as:

Which group of organisms should be rarest in any ecosystem, and why?

What is each level or "link" in a food chain or a food web called?

If the flow of energy in an arctic ecosystem goes through a simple food chain, perhaps involving humans, starting from phytoplankton to zooplankton to fish to seals to polar bears, then which of the following could be TRUE?

Organisms that break down dead organic tissue and return it to the short term carbon cycle, thereby providing a very important ecosystem service are referred to as in food webs, while organisms that photosynthesize and are eaten by primary consumers are referred to as .

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler