Question

Which of the following statements is not correct?

• A. Pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem is upright
• B. Pyramid of biomass in sea is generally inverted
• C. Pyramid of biomass in sea is generally upright
• D. Pyramid of energy is always upright.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question is about ecological pyramids, which are graphical representations showing the relationship between different trophic levels in an ecosystem. Let's analyze the given options:

1. Pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem is upright: This is correct. In a grassland ecosystem, there are many producers (like grasses), fewer primary consumers (herbivores like grasshoppers), and even fewer secondary consumers (carnivores like frogs or small birds), forming an upright pyramid.

2. Pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted: This is correct. In aquatic ecosystems, the biomass of small producers such as phytoplankton is less than the biomass of primary consumers (like zooplankton), leading to an inverted biomass pyramid.

3. Pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally upright: This is incorrect. As explained above, the biomass pyramid in marine ecosystems is often inverted due to the rapid turnover rate of planktonic organisms, meaning the primary consumers (zooplankton) have a larger biomass than the producers (phytoplankton).

4. Pyramid of energy is always upright: This is correct. The pyramid of energy always depicts an upright structure because energy diminishes with each trophic level due to the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the loss of energy as heat.

Conclusion: Thus, the statement that is not correct is: "Pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally upright."