Ecological pyramids and their exceptions — practice questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

A limitation of ecological pyramids:

• A. they measure genetic diversity
• B. they usually do not represent food webs and organisms occupying multiple trophic levels well
• C. they always include decomposers accurately
• D. they directly show every species interaction

Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

A pyramid that may be inverted in some aquatic ecosystems:

• A. pyramid of energy
• B. none
• C. pyramid of biomass
• D. all energy pyramids

Question 3 · difficulty L1 · recall

The ecological pyramid that is always upright:

• A. pyramid of energy
• B. pyramid of biomass
• C. all pyramids always
• D. pyramid of numbers

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Which ecological pyramid is always upright?

• A. Pyramid of energy
• B. Pyramid of biomass
• C. Pyramid of numbers
• D. All ecological pyramids

Question 5 · difficulty L3 · application

Why can the pyramid of biomass be inverted in some aquatic ecosystems?

• A. Producers are absent from aquatic ecosystems
• B. Consumers perform photosynthesis faster than producers
• C. Energy increases at higher trophic levels
• D. Rapid turnover keeps producer standing biomass low

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · understanding

Ecological pyramids represent the relationship between the organisms at different trophic levels and they are generally inverted for:

• A. Pyramid of number in grassland
• B. Pyramid of energy in pond ecosystem
• C. Pyramid of biomass in grassland
• D. Pyramid of biomass in sea

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · understanding

Consider the pyramid of energy of an ecosystem given below: If T$$_4$$ is equivalent to $$1000 \mathrm{~J}$$, what is the value at $$\mathrm{T}_1$$ ?

• A. $$\frac{10000}{10} \mathrm{~J}$$
• B. $$\frac{10000}{10} \times 4 \mathrm{~J}$$
• C. 10,000 J
• D. 10,00,000 J

Question 8 · difficulty L3 · understanding

Which one of the following is not a limitation of ecological pyramids?

• A. Saprophytes are not given any place in ecological pyramids
• B. It assumes a simple food chain, that almost never exists in nature
• C. It accommodates a food web
• D. It does not take into account the same species belonging to two or more trophic levels