Question

Inverted ecological pyramids are found in:
(i) Pyramid of number in a forest ecosystem.
(ii) Pyramid of biomass in a sea.
(iii) Pyramid of biomass in a grass land ecosystem.
(iv) Pyramid of biomass in a pond. ecosystem.
(v) Pyramid of number in a parasitic food chain.

• A. (i), (ii), (iii)
• B. (i), (iii), (v)
• C. (ii), (iii), (iv)
• D. (ii), (iv), (v)

Answer 1

Answer:

D. (ii), (iv), (v)

• Pyramid of biomass in the sea (ii) is typically inverted because phytoplankton (producers) have a smaller biomass than the consumers (like zooplankton and fish) due to their rapid turnover.

• Pyramid of biomass in a pond ecosystem (iv) is also inverted for the same reason as aquatic ecosystems with phytoplankton producers.

• Pyramid of number in a parasitic food chain (v) is also inverted because fewer hosts (larger organisms) support a larger number of parasites (smaller organisms).