The diagram is a pyramid of biomass for a meadow ecosystem. The triangular shape of the diagram is useful for explaining which relationship among the trophic levels in this ecosystem?

Question

A triangle-shaped diagram shows meadow grasses at its wide base. Above it are a row of rabbits, mice, and grasshoppers. Above them are snakes. At the top of the triangle is a hawk or eagle.

a
The amount of available biomass is equal at all trophic levels in this ecosystem.
b
Third-level consumers in this ecosystem have the greatest amount of biomass.
c
The amount of biomass decreases at each trophic level in this ecosystem.
d
With each step to a higher trophic level in this ecosystem, the amount of biomass increases.

Answer 1

The triangular shape of the pyramid of biomass in the meadow ecosystem primarily illustrates the relationship described in option c: "The amount of biomass decreases at each trophic level in this ecosystem."

In a pyramid of biomass, the largest amount of biomass is typically found at the base (producers like meadow grasses), and it decreases at each successive trophic level (herbivores like rabbits, mice, and grasshoppers, followed by carnivores like snakes, and finally the top predators like hawks or eagles). This reflects the energy transfer within the ecosystem, where energy and biomass decrease as you move up the trophic levels.