Consider the following statements:

1.The pyramid of energy is always upright because energy is lost as heat between trophic levels

2.The pyramid of biomass can be inverted, as in a pond where phytoplankton biomass is less than that of small fish

AStatements 1 and 2 are true ✓ Correct

BOnly statement 1 is true

COnly statement 2 is true

DBoth statements are false

Correct answer: (A) Statements 1 and 2 are true

Explanation

Both statements are true, so the energy pyramid and the invertible biomass pyramid hold together.

Statement 1 is right, as the energy pyramid is always upright since energy is lost as heat at each trophic level.

Statement 2 is right, as the biomass pyramid can invert, like a pond where phytoplankton weigh less than the fish they feed.

The rapid turnover of tiny producers explains how a small standing biomass still supports larger consumers.

Both cases follow directly from how energy and matter move through trophic levels.

On average only about a tenth of the energy passes from one trophic level to the next.

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