Under some conditions, trophic diagrams may be inverted (i.e. broader at the top). Under which of the following conditions would you expect a biomass pyramid to be inverted?
A) When primary producers are slow growing and long lived.
B) When grazers are rare.
C) When primary producers are heavily grazed.
D) When predators are slow and hunt inefficiently.
E) When the ecosystem is dominated by large herbivores.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In ecosystems where primary producers are heavily grazed, the biomass of these producers can be rapidly consumed and converted into animal biomass. This can lead to a situation where the biomass of consumers (grazers) temporarily exceeds the biomass of the primary producers, resulting in an inverted biomass pyramid.

Under Some Conditions, Trophic Diagrams May Be Inverted (I