10. Conceptually, it stands to reason that there would be more producers than co
ID: 299915 • Letter: 1
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10. Conceptually, it stands to reason that there would be more producers than consumers, and this is sometimes illustrated in the ecological pyramid of numbers, in a true pyramidal or triangular shape, with the base (producers) wider than the apex (top consumer). (Such a pyramid of numbers can look like the pyramid of energy flow, page 49, Figure 3-11 in the 15th edition of the text, but instead of units of energy, what's counted is individual organisms at each trophic level.) However, sometimes for some ecosystems the pyramid of numbers can show the base is smaller, with fewer producers than consumers. This is true for redwood forests or old growth forests in the Pacific northwest in summer and for mid- to upper latitude lakes in the winter. Explain how there can be fewer producers in redwood forests in summer and in mid- to upper latitude lakes in winter.Explanation / Answer
There can be a reduction in the number of trees in redwood forests during the summertime as the average temperature of the region is increasing due to climate change. The effect of fog on the trees during summer may decrease as the average temperature of coastal water off the Pacific Northwest is rising with the ongoing phenomenon of global warming. The increase in temperature of the ocean may lead to a substantial decrease in fog cover thus negatively impacting the atmospheric humidity that is vital for the leaf water content of tree species. The rise in global temperature can thus reduce the number of producers in the redwood forests in summer.
In mid- to upper latitude lakes, the producers or the phytoplankton may decline due to the formation of ice on the surface that leads to a lack of sunlight. Since the source of energy for phytoplankton is the sun, the productivity of such plants may decline during the winter. Thus, the mid- to upper latitude lakes may have fewer producers in winter.
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