Question

Pyramid of numbers is:

• A. Always upright
• B. Always inverted
• C. Neither upright nor inverted.
• D. Either upright or inverted

Answer 1

The correct option is D Either upright or inverted

Pyramid of numbers

An ecological pyramid constructed considering the number of organisms in each trophic level in a food chain in a sequential manner is known as pyramid of number.

Example

● The pyramid can either be upright or inverted

○ Upright pyramid: In grassland ecosystems, the number of grasses (producers) will be high, the numbers of the consumers in the next level will keep on reducing.

● Inverted pyramid: In a tree ecosystem, the number of individuals (trees) at the base of the pyramid is lesser, primary consumers are the insects (greater in number than the trees). The number of small birds feeding on the insects on the tree are further less. The number of larger birds eating the smaller birds are smallest in number. This gives an inverted pyramid.


Final answer

c. Either upright or inverted