Ecology - Ecology interactions among organisms part 4 - 2 August 2012

Cycling of Nutrients in an Ecosystem

 

Read up about Carbon cycle and Nitrogen cycle!

Ecological Pyramids

An example of an ecological pyramid is:

 (image taken from: http://mrskingsbioweb.com/ecology.html)

 3 types of pyramids learnt:

1. Pyramids of numbers
2. Pyramids of biomass
3. Pyramids of energy

Pyramids of numbers

The pyramid of numbers indicate the relative numbers of individuals at each trophic level

An example of a pyramid of numbers

(image taken from: http://www.learner.org/workshops/sheddinglight/VideoConnection/highlights/highlights6.html)

Pyramids of biomass

It is the relationship between biomass and trophic level by quantifying the amount of biomass present at each trophic level of an ecological community at a particular moment in time. The dry mass of all the organisms at each trophic level may be estimated.

(definition of pyramid of biomass is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_pyramid#Pyramid_of_biomass)


An example of the pyramid of biomass

(Image taken from: http://studydroid.com/?page=studyPack&packId=29966&begin=0)

Pyramid of energy

It shows the total energy utilized at each trophic level.

And example of the pyramid of energy

(image taken from: http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/salient-features-of-ecological-pyramids#)