EducationThe science

Ecological pyramid is .. The rule of the ecological pyramid. Examples

Often, the study of ecological pyramids causes great difficulties for students. In fact, even the most primitive and light ecological pyramids are beginning to be studied by preschoolers and schoolchildren in the primary grades. Ecology as a science in recent years began to pay a lot of attention, because this science in the modern world plays an important role. Ecological pyramid is a part of ecology as a science. In order to understand what it is, it is necessary to read this article.

What is an ecological pyramid?

Ecological pyramid - this is a graphic drawing, which is often depicted in the form of a triangle. Such models depict the trophic structure of the biocenosis. This means that the ecological pyramids represent the number of individuals, their biomass, or the amount of energy that is contained in them. Each of them can show one indicator. Accordingly, this means that the ecological pyramids can be of several types: a pyramid that displays the number of individuals, a pyramid reflecting the amount of biomass of the individuals presented, as well as the last ecological pyramid, which clearly demonstrates the amount of energy contained in these individuals.

What are the pyramids of numbers?

The number pyramid (or numbers) demonstrates the number of organisms at each trophic level. Such an ecological graphic model can be used in science, but extremely rarely. The links in the ecological pyramid of numbers can be depicted practically indefinitely, that is, the structure of the biocenosis in one pyramid is extremely difficult to depict. In addition, at each trophic level there are many individuals, because of which it is sometimes practically impossible to demonstrate the whole structure of the biocenosis in one, full scale.

Example of constructing a number pyramid

In order to understand the pyramid of numbers and its construction, it is necessary to find out which individuals and what interactions between them includes the given ecological pyramid. Examples now consider in detail.

Let the base of the figure be 1000 tons of grass. This grass, for example, for 1 year, will be able to feed themselves in the natural conditions of survival of about 26 million individuals of grasshoppers or other insects. Grasshoppers in this case will be above the vegetation and make up the second trophic level. The third trophic level will be 90 thousand frogs, which for a year eat the insects below. About 300 trout will be able to use these frogs for a year, respectively, they will be located at the fourth trophic level in the pyramid. An adult will be located at the top of the ecological pyramid, he will be the fifth and final link in this chain, that is, the last trophic level. This will happen because a person can consume about 300 trout a year. In turn, a person is the highest link in the food chain, respectively, already no one can use it for food. As shown in the example, the missing links in the ecological number pyramid are impossible.

Pyramid of biomass

It can have a wide variety of structures depending on the ecosystem. For example, this pyramid for terrestrial ecosystems can look almost the same as the energy pyramid. This means that the biomass pyramid will be constructed in such a way that the amount of biomass will decrease with each subsequent trophic level.

In general, pyramids of biomass are mainly studied by students, because to understand them, some knowledge is needed in the fields of biology, ecology and zoology. This ecological pyramid is a graphic drawing that represents the relationship between the students (that is, the producers of organic substances from the inorganic ones) and consumers (consumers of these organic substances).

What are consumers and students?

In order to understand the principle of constructing the pyramid of biomass for sure, it is necessary to understand who are the consumers and procudents.

Producers are producers of organic substances from inorganic substances. These are plants. For example, plant leaves use carbon dioxide (an inorganic substance), and produce as a result of photosynthesis organic matter.

Consumers are consumers of these organic substances. In the terrestrial ecosystem, they are animals and people, and in aquatic ecosystems - various marine animals and fish.

Reversed pyramids of biomass

The reversed pyramid of biomass has the construction of an inverted triangle, that is, its base is narrower than the top. Such a pyramid is called reversed or inverted. The ecological pyramid has this construction in the event that the biomass of the procudants (producers of organic substances) is less than the biomass of consumers (consumers of organic substances).

Pyramid of energies

As we know, the ecological pyramid is a graphic model of one or another ecosystem. One of the important ecological models is the graphical construction of the energy flow. The pyramid, which reflects the speed and time of passage of food through the food chain, is called the energy pyramid. It was formulated thanks to the famous American scientist, who was an ecologist and zoologist, Raymond Lindemann. Raymond formulated the law (the rule of the ecological pyramid), which asserted that when passing from the lower trophic level to the next through the presented food chains, about 10% (more or less) of the energy passed to the previous level in the ecological pyramid. And the rest of the energy, as a rule, is spent on the process of vital activity, on the embodiment of this process. And as a result of the very process of exchange in each link, organisms lose about 90% of their energy.

The regularity of the energy pyramid

In fact, the regularity is that through the upper trophic levels passes much less (several times) of energy than through the lower ones. It is for this reason that large predatory animals are much smaller than, for example, frogs or insects.

Consider, for example, such a beast of prey as a bear. He can be on top, that is, at the very last trophic level, because it is difficult to find an animal that would feed on it. In the event that there were animals in large numbers who would consume bears for food, they would already be extinct, because they could not feed themselves, because bears are few. This is proved by the energy pyramid.

Pyramid of natural equilibria

It begins to be studied by schoolchildren in 1 or 2 classes, because it is quite easy to understand, but at the same time is very important as a component of the science of ecology. The pyramid of natural balance operates in different ecosystems, both in terrestrial nature, and in the underwater. Often it is used to familiarize schoolchildren with the importance of each being on earth. In order to understand the pyramid of natural equilibria, it is necessary to consider examples.

Examples of building a pyramid of natural equilibria

The pyramid of natural equilibria can be clearly demonstrated by the interaction of the river and the forest. For example, a graphic drawing can show the following interaction of natural resources: on the bank of the river, a forest grew, which went far into the depths. The river was very full, and on its bank grew flowers, mushrooms, shrubs. There were a lot of fish in its waters. In this example, there is an ecological balance. The river gives its moisture to trees, trees create a shadow, do not allow water from the river to evaporate. Consider the reverse example of natural balance. If something happens to the forest, the trees are burnt or they are cut down, the river can dry up without getting protection. This is an example of the destruction of ecological balance.

The same can happen with animals and plants. Consider owls, forest mice and acorns. Acorns are the basis in the ecological pyramid of natural balance, because they do not feed on anything, but they feed the rodents. The second component in the next trophic level will be forest mice. They feed on acorns. At the top of the pyramid are owls, because they eat mice. If acorns that grow on the tree are lost, then the mice will have nothing to eat and they will most likely die. But then there will be no owls to eat, and all their species will die. This is the pyramid of natural balance.

Thanks to these pyramids, environmentalists can monitor the state of nature, wildlife and draw relevant conclusions.

Similar articles

 

 

 

 

Trending Now

 

 

 

 

Newest

Copyright © 2018 en.delachieve.com. Theme powered by WordPress.