AQA GCSE Biology

Pyramids of biomass

AQA GCSE Biology revision on Pyramids of biomass. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Biology 8461 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 25)

  1. Question 1

    What does a pyramid of biomass represent for a food chain?

    • A) Total mass of living material at each trophic level
    • B) Total count of individual organisms per unit area
    • C) Total energy stored within the chemical molecules
    • D) Total speed of growth for each species in group
    Show answer

    Answer: Total mass of living material at each trophic level

    A pyramid of biomass represents the dry mass of living material at each trophic level. While pyramids of numbers represent population counts, pyramids of biomass focus specifically on the mass of the organisms.

  2. Question 2

    Which trophic level is always found at the base of a pyramid of biomass?

    • A) Primary producers
    • B) Apex predators
    • C) Tertiary consumer
    • D) Secondary carniv
    Show answer

    Answer: Primary producers

    Primary producers, such as plants and algae, are always at the base because they convert sunlight into biomass. Other levels rely on consuming the biomass produced by the level below them.

  3. Question 3

    If a producer has 5000 kg of biomass, and 10 percent of this is transferred to the primary consumer, what is the biomass of the primary consumer?

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    Answer: 500

    To find 10 percent of 5000 kg, you divide by 10, resulting in 500 kg. This reflects the energy loss that occurs as you move up each level of the food chain.

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