A marine biomass survey gives standing-crop biomass at one moment.
Why can the consumer biomass exceed the producer biomass in this aquatic ecosystem?
- A
The 10% rule is reversed in oceans
- B
Zooplankton photosynthesize to add biomass
- C
Energy is created at higher trophic levels
- Dcheck_circle
Phytoplankton turn over rapidly so productivity is high despite low standing biomass
Explanation
Inverted biomass pyramids occur in aquatic systems because phytoplankton reproduce and are consumed quickly, so high productivity supports more zooplankton biomass than instantaneous producer biomass.