Question 1: Define a pyramid of biomass and explain its significance in studying ecological communities.

Answer: A pyramid of biomass is a graphical representation showing the total biomass of organisms at each trophic level in a given ecosystem. It is significant because it illustrates how biomass decreases at higher trophic levels, reflecting energy transfer efficiency.

Question 2: Describe the mechanism by which biomass is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Answer: Biomass is transferred through feeding relationships, where organisms consume others, converting their biomass into new biomass in their own tissues, but some energy is lost as heat and waste.

Question 3: What is the typical shape of a pyramid of biomass and why?

Answer: It is usually pyramid-shaped because biomass decreases at higher trophic levels due to energy loss during transfer, resulting in less biomass as you move up the food chain.

Question 4: Calculate the biomass of a secondary consumer if the biomass of the primary consumer is 1000 kg, assuming 10% energy transfer efficiency between these levels.

Answer: 10 kg

Question 5: A producer has a biomass of 5000 kg. If the biomass at the tertiary consumer level is 50 kg, what is the percentage decrease in biomass from producer to tertiary consumer?

Answer: 99%

Question 6: Which of the following best explains why pyramids of biomass are not always pyramid-shaped in all ecosystems?

Answer: In some ecosystems, biomass at different levels can vary due to seasonal changes or the presence of large, slow-growing organisms.

Question 7: Fill in the blank: In a typical pyramid of biomass, the biomass at each successive trophic level is ______ than the level below it.

Answer: less

Question 8: Explain why pyramids of biomass are useful for ecologists studying ecosystem productivity.

Answer: Pyramids of biomass help ecologists understand how energy and organic material are distributed across different trophic levels, revealing the efficiency of energy transfer, the health of the ecosystem, and identifying potential issues such as overharvesting or habitat imbalance.

Question 9: Propose a simple experiment to measure the biomass of a plant population in a local habitat. Include the main variables involved and safety precautions.

Answer: An experiment could involve collecting a representative sample of plants, measuring their fresh weight, then drying them to constant weight to find dry biomass. Variables include plant species, sample size, and environmental conditions. Safety precautions include wearing gloves when handling plants, using appropriate tools safely, and ensuring proper disposal of plant material.

Question 10: Based on a study, the biomass of phytoplankton in a lake was 10,000 kg, zooplankton was 1,000 kg, and small fish was 100 kg. Describe what this data suggests about energy transfer in this aquatic ecosystem.

Answer: The data shows a decreasing biomass at each trophic level, indicating that energy transfer is inefficient, with most energy lost as heat. It reflects the typical pyramid shape and supports the concept that less biomass is available at higher levels.