In an ecosystem with a large number of insects feeding on a big tree, what shape of pyramid of numbers would you expect?

Inverted pyramid

The correct answer is b) Inverted pyramid.

In an ecosystem with a large number of insects feeding on a big tree, you would expect an inverted pyramid shape for the pyramid of numbers. This is because the number of insects, which are primary consumers, feeding on the tree may be significantly higher compared to the number of producers (the tree itself).

In this scenario, the number of insects would be greater than the number of tree individuals at the producer level. As insects rely on the tree as a food source, their population can be much larger than the population of individual trees.

The inverted pyramid shape is commonly observed when the population size or number of individuals at a lower trophic level is much larger than the population size at the higher trophic levels. This occurs when a single producer can support a large number of consumers, leading to a smaller number of individuals at higher trophic levels.

It's important to note that the shape of the pyramid of numbers can vary depending on the specific ecosystem and the organisms involved. In some cases, the pyramid of numbers may have an irregular or diamond-shaped pattern (option c) due to the interrelationships and feeding habits of different species. However, in the given scenario with a large number of insects feeding on a big tree, an inverted pyramid shape is expected.