Question
What are ecological pyramids? Mention its limitations.
✓
Answer
An ecological pyramid is a graphic representation of an ecological parameter like number of individuals present in various trophic levels of a food chain with producers forming the base and top carnivores forming the tip.
There are three types of ecological pyramids:
- Pyramid of numbers.
- Pyramid of biomass.
- Pyramid of energy.
Limitations:
- It assumes that food chains are simple. Simple food chains do not occur in nature. Instead food webs are present.
- A simple species may operate at two or more trophic levels. Ecological pyramids have no method of accommodating such cases.
Need a full question paper?
Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.
Explore more
Similar questions
- How did Hardy-Weinberg explain that allelic frequencies in a population are stable and are constant from generation to generation?
- Why does genetic equilibrium get disturbed in a population? Give reasons.
Which of the following ecosystems will be more productive in terms of primary productivity? Justify your answer.
A young forest, a natural old forest, a shallow polluted lake, alpine meadow.
A young forest, a natural old forest, a shallow polluted lake, alpine meadow.
Describe in detail the various ancient and modern hypothesis given to explain the origin of life on earth.
What is endosperm and how is it formed? Describe the various types of endosperm found in angiosperms.
Define decomposition and describe the process and products of decomposition.
find out how to distinguish between: RNA and DNA
a. Draw the embryo sac of a flowering plant and label the following:
i. Central cell
ii. Chalazal end
iii. Synergids
b. Name the cell and explain the process it undergoes to develop into an embryo sac.
c. Explain the development of endosperm in coconut.
i. Central cell
ii. Chalazal end
iii. Synergids
b. Name the cell and explain the process it undergoes to develop into an embryo sac.
c. Explain the development of endosperm in coconut.
- Explain with the help of Griffith’s experiment how the search for genetic material was conducted and what was the conclusion drawn?
- How did MacLeod, McCarty and Avery establish the biochemical nature of the so called ‘genetic material’ identified by Griffith in his experiment.
What are the various advantages of using genetically modified plants to increase the overall yield of the crop?
Study the graph given below and answer the questions that follow:
- 5th day to 12th day of the cycle.
- 14th day of the cycle.
- 16th day to 25th day of the cycle.