An ecological pyramid shows how creatures at different trophic levels interact. G.Evylen Hutchinson and Raymond Lindeman presented.

All calculations for ecological pyramids must take into consideration all creatures in a certain trophic level because a sample space of a few numbers or species will give enormous inaccuracies. 

As can be seen, the base of these pyramids is the widest, and it is covered by the lowest trophic level, which consists of producers. Primary consumers, for example, are part of the next trophic level.

Types of Ecological Pyramid

1. Pyramid of Numbers

2.  Pyramid of Energy

3. Pyramid of Biomass

– A number pyramid represents the total number of persons (population) existing at each trophic level. – In 1972, Elton John coined the phrase “pyramid of numbers.” – This pyramid is quite effective when it comes to counting the number of creatures.

Pyramid of Numbers

– The best way to figure out what each trophic level does in an ecosystem is to use an energy pyramid. – An energy pyramid shows how much energy is at each trophic level as well as how much energy is lost when a species moves up or down a trophic level.

Pyramid of Energy

– At a particular trophic level, biomass is the amount of living material present in an individual or group of individuals per unit of surface area. – This type of ecological pyramid accounts for the amount of biomass present at each trophic level at each level. – The pyramidal representation of biomass is based on the second rule of thermodynamics.

Pyramid of Biomass