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Ecological pyramids

Structure and function · Biology

Ecological pyramid

Interactive 3D

Climb the trophic pyramid — only a tenth of the energy passes to each level.

Controls

Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.

Study notes

A grassland pyramid of numbers is upright (many grass plants → fewer rabbits → one hawk), but a tree pyramid inverts — one banyan hosts thousands of insects and birds. Ocean biomass pyramids invert: tiny phytoplankton (small standing crop) support tonnes of fish — because they reproduce hourly. Energy pyramids never invert — the 10% law forbids it.

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