Question

Assertion (A): Some aquatic ecosystems have inverted biomass pyramids.

Reason (R): More energy is required by the organisms occupying higher trophic levels.

Options

• Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

• (A) is true, but (R) is false.

• (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Answer 1

(A) is true, but (R) is false.

Explanation:

• Some aquatic ecosystems can have inverted biomass pyramids because of things like high primary producer growth rates, effective energy transfer between trophic levels, and a high number of small animals supporting a low number of large predators.
• However, inverted biomass pyramids are not primarily caused by the reason (R) because creatures at higher trophic levels require more energy.