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ecological pyramid

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ecological pyramid

[ek·ə′läj·ə·kəl ′pir·ə·mid]
(ecology)
A pyramid-shaped diagram representing quantitatively the numbers of organisms, energy relationships, and biomass of an ecosystem; numbers are high for the lowest trophic levels (plants) and low for the highest trophic level (carnivores).
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
The standard textbook description of an ecological pyramid (or trophic pyramid) displays high-level predators at the top, occupying the smallest part of the pyramid, and phytoplankton at the bottom, occupying the largest part of the pyramid.
The Ross Sea: Dr David Ainley describes the Ross Sea in Antarctica, a rich biodiversity hotspot and perhaps the last remaining ocean on earth where top predators abound and drive the ecosystem. But industrial fishing, with New Zealand companies being major participants, threatens to destroy this unique ocean habitat and its abundant life
With its position at the top of the ecological pyramid, the tiger is the symbol of India's wealth of wildlife.
BUT WE'RE ON THE PROWL
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