Creating Biomass Pyramids
TASK 1: Using the data below, complete a biomass pyramid on the graph paper. One square represents
2 000kg. Therefore, half a square represents 1 000 kg. Use a RULER.
Organism
Cabbages
Slugs
Trophic Level
Producer
First order consumer (primary consumer)
Biomass
10 000 kilograms
6 000 kilograms
Thrushes (bird
species)
Cat
Second order consumer (secondary consumer)
4 000 kilograms
Third-order consumer (tertiary consumer)
1 000 kilograms
TASK 2: Using the data below, create a Biomass Pyramid on the graph paper.
• You may choose to use the large or small boxes to determine your scale.
• Create a colour-coded key to represent each trophic level. E.g. zooplankton (producer) may = blue.
Organism
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Trophic Level
Producer
First order consumer (primary-consumer)
Biomass
1 000 000 kg
100 000 kg
Herring
Second order consumer (secondary
consumer)
10 000 kg
Sea lion
Third-order consumer (tertiary consumer)
1 000 kg
Scale: 1 large/small (circle one) square represents
______________ grams/kilograms (circle one)
Colour-coded Key: