1. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
A diagram that shows relative amounts of energy or matter within each trophic level.
3 Types:
Energy Pyramid
Biomass Pyramid
Pyramid of Numbers

2. Energy Pyramid REMEMBER: About a 90% energy loss between
trophic levels
Energy Pyramid
At every trophic level energy is lost as heat or through life processes
Available energy decreases at each level
10% rule – each trophic level passes only about 10% of the energy of the one below it
Higher on food chain, more area needed to live.
This pyramid exists in every ecosystem.

3. Energy Loss in Heat & Life Processes: ENERGY PYRAMID
Breathing, Walking,
Reproducing…
ENERGY PYRAMID
Life Processes
& Heat
Life Processes
& Heat
Light and
Chemical
Energy
Life Processes
& Heat

5. Pyramid of Numbers Not all pyramids of #s look like this!
Some have small base
Like a tree ecosystem

6. Biomass Pyramids
Displays the biomass (living tissue) at each trophic level.