Explain why an ecological pyramid can be used to illustrate energy flow from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem.

An ecological pyramid refers to a graphical demonstration created to show the bioproductivity or biomass at each of the trophic levels in a given ecosystem. The energy pyramids initiate with the producers like plants at the bottom and advance via the various trophic levels, the highest level is the top of the food chain.

A pyramid of productivity is generally more beneficial, demonstrating the turnover or production of biomass at each trophic level. Rather than demonstrating a single snapshot in time, productivity pyramids demonstrate the energy flow via the food chain.

When energy flows to the next trophic level, generally only 10 percent of it is used to construct new biomass, turning into stored energy. In the pyramid of productivity, each step will be 10 percent of the size of the previous step.