In the ecosystem, biomass is how energy flows from the sun to plants, plants to animals and animals to humans, humans to humans, and so on. As we progress through the trophic levels, a small amount of biomass is consumed by consumers or secondary consumers. The aquatic ecology, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. We’ll look at a full description of biomass, its types, and ecological pyramids in this article.
Biomass
Biomass is a renewable energy source made up of organic elements such as plants and animals. Animal dung, biogenic materials, food, wood wastes, agricultural wastes, and other organic resources can be included in biomass.
Types of Biomass
There are the following types of Biomass:
Terrestrial Biomass
The biomass found in the terrestrial ecosystem is referred to as terrestrial biomass. At higher trophic levels, it usually diminishes. Terrestrial biomass includes grasses, trees, bushes, and other plants that are classed as terrestrial producers, and grasshoppers, deer, hawks, and other animals that are classified as terrestrial consumers.
Ocean Biomass
The biomass found in the oceanic ecosystem is referred to as ocean biomass. When compared to the terrestrial environment, the energy flow in the oceanic ecosystem is in the opposite direction. At higher trophic levels, ocean biomass grows. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, filter feeders, predatory fish, and other forms of ocean biomass are examples.
Ecological Pyramid
The ecological pyramid is an essential energy flow concept. The term “ecological pyramid” refers to a diagrammatic representation of various trophic levels.
The producer is at the bottom of an ecological pyramid, while the top carnivore is at the top and the other trophic level is in between. So because the quantity of creatures, biomass, and energy decreases over time, the diagrammatic form takes the shape of a pyramid.
Generally, there are three Categories Of Ecological Pyramid:
- Pyramid of Numbers
- Biomass Pyramid
- Pyramid of Energy
Pyramid of Numbers
The link between the number of primary producers and following level consumers is depicted in the Pyramid of Numbers. Number pyramids are most commonly seen in grasslands, where grasses create the pyramid’s foundation due to their great number. Each trophic level reduces the number of individuals.
However, because counting all of the creatures is impossible, the pyramid of numbers is not an effective tool for studying the trophic system.
Depending on the relative quantities of producers and consumers in an ecosystem, the numbers pyramid may be upright or inverted.
Upright Pyramid of Number
As you move from producers (lower trophic level) to consumers (upper trophic level), the number of individuals in the erect pyramid of numbers decreases (higher trophic level). This pyramid can be found in the grassland or farmland ecosystems, as well as the pond ecology.
- The grasses (producers) are abundant in the grassland ecosystem.
- These occupy the pyramid’s broad base.
- The principal consumers (herbivores) follow, such as grasshoppers with a smaller size than grasses.
- The secondary consumers (primary carnivores) are next, with rats having a lower number than grasshoppers.
- Tertiary carnivores (secondary consumers) eat rats, such as snakes, which are greater in size but have a smaller population than rats.
- Hawks are the top carnivores with the smallest population and occupy the pyramid’s tapering summit.
Inverted Pyramid of Number
An inverted pyramid of numbers can be seen in the tree ecosystem and parasite food chain. The number of producers in the tree ecosystem is the smallest, and the population of consumers grows at each trophic level.
- The producers (trees) are in the narrowest area of the pyramid because they are the smallest.
- The number of birds and other herbivores that eat tree products is relatively high.
- Bird lice and bugs are parasitic insects with a larger number than birds.
- In the tree ecosystem, the quantity of hyperparasites (fleas, microorganisms) dramatically increases, occupying the broad end of the pyramid.
Spindle-Shaped Pyramid of Number
Since there is neither consecutive increase (upright) nor reduction (inverted) in the number of inhabitants in an ecosystem, it is also known as a partially upright pyramid.
To summarise, when we progress from producers to herbivores, there is an increase in the number of animals (primary consumers). As you progress to the tertiary trophic level and beyond, you’ll notice a decline in the number of carnivores (secondary consumers). As a result, this graphical representation shows a Decrease- Increase- Decrease phenomena, resulting in a half upright or spindle-shaped pyramid. This form of number pyramid can be seen in a parasite-free forest ecosystem.
- The producers have a reasonable population size that is neither the smallest nor the largest; as a result, they are not located at the pyramid’s broad base or tapering summit.
- Herbivores, which feed on forest products, are comparably more numerous and are virtually in the centre of the pyramid.
- The herbivores are being devoured by the smallest predators (eagles), which occupy the top of the pyramid.
Conclusion
In the ecosystem, biomass is how energy flows from the sun to plants, plants to animals and animals to humans, humans to humans, and so on. As we progress through the trophic levels, a small amount of biomass is consumed by consumers or secondary consumers.
The ecological pyramid is an essential energy flow concept. The term “ecological pyramid” refers to a diagrammatic representation of various trophic levels.
The producer is at the bottom of an ecological pyramid, while the top carnivore is at the top and the other trophic level is in between. The link between the number of primary producers and following level consumers is depicted in the Pyramid of Numbers. Number pyramids are most commonly seen in grasslands, where grasses create the pyramid’s foundation due to their great number