Light

Trophic Pyramid

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.

Analogy

Imagine a pyramid-shaped stack of food containers at a picnic. At the bottom are large containers filled with sandwiches (producers), then smaller containers with leftovers (primary consumers), even smaller containers with crumbs (secondary consumers), until you reach tiny empty containers at the top (tertiary consumers). This represents how energy diminishes as it moves up each level.

Related terms

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.