A diagram showing the numbers of living organisms present at each feeding stage (trophic level) of a * food chain. The green plants (producers) are usually more numerous and form the base of the pyramid. The successive consumer levels usually decrease in numbers at each stage and form the tiers of the pyramid. There is typically one or a few predators at the top. Normally there are three or four tiers in the pyramid and rarely more than six. If the producers are large (e.g. trees) the pyramid will be partially inverted, as the base is smaller than one or more of the successive tiers. See also pyramid of biomass. |
