Question

Which one has always an upright/ steeper vertical gradient?

• A. Pyramid of mass
• B. Pyramid of energy
• C. Pyramid of numbers
• D. Pyramid of energy in aquatic ecosystem

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Pyramid of energy represents the amount of energy at each trophic level. In any ecosystem, flow of energy declines as it passes from lower to higher trophic level. This is explained by second law of thermodynamics. Hence, the pyramid of energy always has an upright or steeper vertical gradient. In this, the energy decreases from one trophic level to the next trophic level because energy is lost as metabolic heat during transfer of energy. When food energy passes from producers to herbivores to carnivores, only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to another trophic level.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Pyramid of energy.'