Quantrex Quantrex AcademyJEE · NEET · NDA PYQs with solutions Open app
NEETBotanyEcosystem

In a particular aquatic ecosystem, the pyramid of biomass is observed to be inverted. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the flow of energy or the pyramid of energy in this exact same ecosystem?

Options

  1. AThe pyramid of energy is always upright because energy is lost as heat at each trophic level.
  2. BThe pyramid of energy is also inverted because a larger consumer biomass requires more energy.
  3. CThe primary consumers assimilate a greater total amount of energy than the primary producers.
  4. DThe flow of energy becomes bidirectional to sustain the high biomass of higher trophic levels.

Correct answer

A. The pyramid of energy is always upright because energy is lost as heat at each trophic level.

Step-by-step solution

Even in ecosystems where the pyramid of biomass is inverted (such as in a sea where the biomass of fishes exceeds that of phytoplankton), the pyramid of energy can never be inverted. The flow of energy is strictly unidirectional. When energy flows from a particular trophic level to the next, a significant amount of energy is always lost as heat at each step. Thus, the primary producers always have more energy than the primary consumers, making the pyramid of energy always upright. Answer: The pyramid of energy is a

Practice Ecosystem on Quantrex Academy →

More from Ecosystem

Match List I with List II : List I List II A. Productivity I. Gross primary productivity minus respiration losses B. Net primary productivity II. Rate of formation of new organic m 2026Ecological pyramids represent the relationship between the organisms at different trophic levels and they are generally inverted for : 2026Which of the following statements are correct ? (a) Energy flow from producers to consumers is unidirectional (b) Energy pyramid can never be inverted (c) Transfer of energy follow 2026Which of the following are primary consumers in a food chain ? 2026Match List I with List II : List I List II A. Decomposition I. Accumulation of dark coloured amorphous colloidal substance B. Detritus II. Release of inorganic nutrients by the act 2026Which of the following is the unit of productivity of an Ecosystem? 2025Given below are two statements: Statement I : The primary source of energy in an ecosystem is solar energy. Statement II : The rate of production of organic matter during photosynt 2025Given below are two statements: Statement I: In ecosystem, there is unidirectional flow of energy of sun from producers to consumers. Statement II: Ecosystems are exempted from 2nd 2025 Full Ecosystem list All NEET PYQs