13.6 Pyramid Models
KEY CONCEPT
Pyramids model the distribution of energy and matter
in an ecosystem.
13.6 Pyramid Models
An energy pyramid shows the distribution of energy
among trophic levels.
• Energy pyramids compare energy used by producers
and other organisms on trophic levels.
• Between each tier of an energy
pyramid, up to 90 percent of the
energy is lost into the
energy transferred (10%)
atmosphere as heat.
energy
lost (90%)
• Only 10 percent of the energy at
each tier is transferred from one
trophic level to the next.
energy
lost (90%)
energy transferred (10%)
13.6 Pyramid Models
Other pyramid models illustrate an ecosystem’s biomass
and distribution of organisms.
• Biomass is a measure of the total dry mass of organisms in
a given area.
tertiary
consumers
75 g/m2
150g/m2
secondary
consumers
primary
consumers
producers
producers
675g/m2
2000g/m2
13.6 Pyramid Models
• A pyramid of numbers shows the numbers of individual
organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
tertiary
consumers
5
secondary
consumers
5000
primary
consumers
500,000
producers
producers
5,000,000
• A vast number of producers are required to support even a
few top level consumers.
13.6 Pyramid Models
Inverted pyramid of numbers
This type of
ecological pyramid is
seen in parasitic food
chain where one
primary producer
supports numerous
parasites which
support more
hyperparasites.
13.6 Pyramid Models
Partly upright pyramid of numbers
It is seen in the forest
ecosystem where the
number of producers
are lesser in number
and support a greater
number of herbivores
and which in turn
support a fewer number
of carnivores.