Understanding Decomposers and the Difference Between Energy and Biomass Pyramids

[jacklwk]

Homework Statement

1. can anyone tell me why decomposers are not shown in the food chain or food web?
2. what is the main difference between '' pyramid of energy'' and ''pyramid of biomass''?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Stevedye56]

Did you try searching for the results at all? Here's a Wikipedia article on both.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_pyramid

 

[Ouabache]

Decomposers may be represented in the food chain (reference)

 

[Kushal]

uuummm... actually they should be shown coz they are part of the energy cycle, i.e they release the energy from dead materials back to the surrounding, hence completing the cycle...

pyramid of energy is more representative as compared to the pyramid of biomass. the pyramid of energy considers the amount of energy liberated whe a specific mass of that organism is burnt while the pyramid of biomass considers the weight of the completely dehhydrated organism.