Question

If a scientist wanted to compare the exact number of organisms at each trophic level within a desert ecosystem, which pyramid would he or she use?

Answer 1

A scientist would use a pyramid of numbers to compare the exact number of organisms at each trophic level within a desert ecosystem, as it visually represents the population structure of an ecosystem across different trophic levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a scientist wanted to compare the exact number of organisms at each trophic level within a desert ecosystem, the pyramid they would use is the pyramid of numbers. This type of ecological pyramid illustrates the number of organisms at each trophic level and can be either upright or inverted, depending on the specific characteristics of the ecosystem. For instance, in a grassland ecosystem during summer, the pyramid would typically be upright with a large base of plants and decreasing numbers of organisms at higher trophic levels. Conversely, in a temperate forest, the pyramid might be inverted because of fewer, but larger, primary producers such as trees, which are still able to support many primary consumers like insects due to their extensive photosynthetic capabilities.

Using a pyramid of numbers allows researchers to depict and analyze the population structure within an ecosystem, showing how the number of organisms changes from one trophic level to another.

Answer 2

If a scientist wanted to compare the exact number of organisms at each trophic level within a desert ecosystem, the pyramid he or she would use would be the pyramid of numbers. The pyramid of numbers presents the population of organisms (individually) in each trophic level in a certain ecosystem.