Which combination of ecological pyramids is characterized by an inverted shape?

Pyramid of numbers in a parasitic food chain and pyramid of biomass in a pond ecosystem.

The correct answer is Option (1)-Pyramid of numbers in a parasitic food chain and pyramid of biomass in a pond ecosystem.

Pyramid of number indicates the number of organisms at each trophic level. In parasitic food chain, the pyramid of numbers is inverted.

In a parasitic food chain, the pyramid of numbers is inverted. This occurs because a single host organism, can support many parasites. These parasites, in turn, may host even more hyperparasites (parasites of parasites). As a result, the number of organisms increases at each higher trophic level, leading to an inverted pyramid shape. In this type of food chain, the base of the pyramid has fewer host organisms, but the number of organisms increases dramatically as you move up the trophic levels to the parasites and hyperparasites.

The pyramid of biomass in the sea is often inverted due to the higher biomass of fishes compared to phytoplankton. Phytoplankton, which are microscopic photosynthetic organisms, serve as the primary producers in marine ecosystems. They convert sunlight and nutrients into organic matter and form the base of the food chain.

However, despite their abundance and productivity, phytoplankton have relatively low biomass because they are small in size. They are rapidly consumed by a large number of herbivorous zooplankton, which in turn become prey for small fish. This continues up the food chain, with larger predatory fish consuming smaller fish.

Therefore, the biomass of fishes exceeding that of phytoplankton is one of the reasons why the pyramid of biomass in the sea is often inverted.