Question

Assuming this is a healthy ecosystem, which organisms in this ecosystem would you expect to have the highest population? Which should have the lowest?
Hint: Think about the trophic levels and transfer of energy in this ecosystem.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Highest population: Primary producers (e.g. plants). In the case of animals: Primary consumers (e.g. grasshoppers).

2. Lowest population: Third-level consumers (Top predators). E.g. An eagle.

Explanation:

There are two types of ecological pyramids that illustrate the correlation between trophic levels and biomass in a healthy ecosystem:

• Energy pyramid: illustrates the flow of energy at each trophic level. That is, energy is passed up from lower to higher.
• Biomass pyramid: illustrates the amount of biomass at each trophic level. Less energy, less organisms.

In a healthy ecosystem, plants are located at the bottom of the pyramid because they produce their own food; while top predators are located at the top.

Plants (trees and bushes), for example, will have high population levels and will pass energy to the next level of the pyramid. As we go up the trophic levels, organisms tend to be larger in size but fewer in numbers. This means that the top predators or third-level consumers, such as eagles, lions, or bears, are indeed bigger but have lower biomass or population numbers.