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

In an aquatic ecosystem, a small standing crop of phytoplankton supports a large standing crop of zooplankton. Which of the following ecological pyramids is best described by this statement?

Options

  1. AInverted pyramid of numbers
  2. BInverted pyramid of biomass
  3. CUpright pyramid of biomass
  4. DInverted pyramid of energy

Correct answer

B. Inverted pyramid of biomass

Step-by-step solution

The standing crop of a trophic level can be measured as the number of organisms or their biomass. In an aquatic ecosystem, the number of phytoplankton is vastly greater than the number of zooplankton, meaning the pyramid of numbers is upright. However, because phytoplankton are microscopic and have a very rapid turnover rate, their total mass (biomass) at any given time is smaller than the biomass of the zooplankton they support. Therefore, a "small standing crop supporting a large standing crop" in this context re

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