Pyramid of Energy

Pyramid of Energy

Pyramid of Numbers

1 sparrow hawk
10 Bluetits
100 Caterpillars
1000 oaktrees

Flow of Energy

1.  What is the ultimate source of energy for all ecological pyramids shown in the pictures?

2.  In general, what kind of organism makes up the BASE of the Pyramid of Energy? Give SPECIFIC examples.

3.  Examine the Pyramid of Energy and EXPLAIN why only about 10% of the energy available at one level is transferred to the next higher level.

4.  How is the energy loss from one level to the next reflected in the Pyramid of Numbers?

5.  Suppose an ecosystem has a greater number of individual herbivores than producers. How might this affect the shape of the ecosystem’s Pyramid of Numbers?

DRAW what it would look like in the blank area to the left.

6.  What QUANTITY does the Pyramid of Biomass express?

7.  EXPLAIN how biomass is calculated.