Explain the productivity of ecology, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the Productivity of ecology?

When scientists study an ecosystem as a whole, they often examine the relationships between feeding, or trophic, levels. In order to do this, they lump together all of the organisms according to their functions. For example, all of the photosynthetic (producers) species are grouped together, as are all of the herbivore (primary consumers) species, and the carnivore (secondary consumers) species, and so on. Ecologists usually like to add up all of the living mass, or biomass of each group in order to compare relative values. These representations are useful in visualizing relationships, especially when it comes to comparing things like biomass, energy, and numbers.

The information about biomass (weight), numbers of individuals, or amounts of energy can be graphically presented as Ecological Pyramids as seen below (Ecological pyramid information is derived from W. E. Pequegnat, 1961; H.T. Odum, 1957; Harvey, 1950; Teal, 1962).

Pyramid of Numbers :  Note the huge difference in numbers of individual organisms between each step of the food chain. It takes a large number of individuals to support a relatively small number at the top of the food chain. Pyramids of numbers like this one do not consider important factors such as weight or energy.

Pyramids of Biomass : Although ecological pyramids are usually sloping downward in typical pyramidal shapes, sometimes the pyramids of biomass are inverted, as seen below. This happens when the data reflects a specific point in time. Since the life span of plankton in general is very short, a given sample will only reflect what is present at the time of sampling. However, we also know that the reproductive rates of plankton populations are very rapid, and in this way are able to sustain a large population of consumers over long periods of time.


Related Discussions:- Explain the productivity of ecology

Predisposing factors and pathphysiology of meningitis, Predisposing Factors...

Predisposing Factors The patients with diabets mellitus, malignancies and those on immunosuppressive drugs have reduced resistance and are more susceptible to develop meningi

#title.classification., merits and demerits system of classification by Lin...

merits and demerits system of classification by Linnaeus

Define drug effects on carbohydrate metabolism, Define drug effects on Carb...

Define drug effects on Carbohydrate metabolism? Carbohydrate metabolism: Hypoglycemic drugs such as insulin and sulphonylureas are prescribed because of their ability to increa

Define work capacity that is relevant to sports nutrition, Define Work Capa...

Define Work Capacity that is relevant to sports nutrition? There are generally two areas of work capacity that is relevant to sports nutrition one is aerobic capacity and the o

What is the treatment process of mitral stenosis, Q. What is the treatment ...

Q. What is the treatment process of mitral stenosis? Presence of symptoms or any complications is an indication for treatment. Apart from penicillin prophylaxis no other treatm

Seed dispersal, what are the characteristics of the stages in seed dispersa...

what are the characteristics of the stages in seed dispersal

State the prevention of campylobacteriosis diseases, State the prevention o...

State the prevention of Campylobacteriosis Prevention: the various ways to prevent campylobacteriosis are: Wash hands before preparing foods. Wash hands immediatel

Show the paleobotanical evidence, Q. Show the Paleobotanical Evidence? ...

Q. Show the Paleobotanical Evidence? Paleobotany deals with the study of fossil records of plants and animals. New techniques and approaches to the study of fossil flowering pl

Phylum protozoa, what are the classfication and members af phylum protozoa

what are the classfication and members af phylum protozoa

Assessment of diastolic function, Diastolic dysfunction is  responsible for...

Diastolic dysfunction is  responsible for one third of cases of heart  failure alone and rest two  third of cases in  combination with systolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction c

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd