Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A trophic pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. It shows how energy decreases as it moves up from producers to primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.
Food Chain: A linear sequence that shows how energy flows from one organism to another in an ecosystem.
Biomagnification/Bioaccumulation: The process where certain pollutants or toxins become more concentrated in organisms higher up in the food chain.
Ecological Efficiency: The percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to another; typically only about 10% is passed on due to loss through heat or waste.