Ecological pyramids
- Created by: GEEKGIRL98
- Created on: 30-09-15 09:00
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- Ecological Pyramids
- Number pyramids
- Numbers are usually greater at lower trophic levels
- Drawbacks of number pyramids
- Number of individuals may be too big for them to be accurately represented on the same scale
- Biomass pyramids
- More reliable data-quantitative
- Total mass of plants/ animals in one particular area
- Drawbacks of biomass pyramids
- Dry mass must be used, but requires killing the organism- only a small sample can be used- may not be representative
- Measured in gm or gm depending on the type of area being surveyed
- Energy pyramids
- Most accurate representation of energy flow
- Data are more reliable- energy stored by organisms which have the same dry mass may store different energy amounts
- Data usually collected in given area
- Drawbacks of energy pyramids
- Data can be difficult to collect
- Most accurate representation of energy flow
- Number pyramids
- No account of size- 1 tree is equivalent to 1 aphid
- Drawbacks of number pyramids
- Number of individuals may be too big for them to be accurately represented on the same scale
- Drawbacks of number pyramids
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