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Evaluate the benefits of using a pyramid of biomass over a pyramid of numbers to depict a food chain.

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Cambridge IGCSE BiologyOrganisms and their environmentCore content

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Evaluate the benefits of using a pyramid of biomass over a pyramid of numbers to depict a food chain

This point belongs to Food chains and food webs, especially Food chains and food webs outcomes.
You need to be able to evaluate the benefits of using a pyramid of biomass over a pyramid of numbers to depict a food chain.
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Paper 3 structured question: Food chains and food webs

Paper 3Theory (Core)2 marks

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Pyramids in Food Chains

Explain why a pyramid of biomass is more useful than a pyramid of numbers when showing a food chain.

a
State one benefit of using a pyramid of biomass instead of a pyramid of numbers.
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[1]
b
Identify one reason why a pyramid of numbers can be misleading.
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[1]

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Related learning objectives

Explain that a food chain illustrates how energy is transferred from one organism to another, starting with a producer.
Food chains and food webs outcomes
Create and analyze basic food chains.
Food chains and food webs outcomes
Define a food web as a system of interconnected food chains and analyze food webs.
Food chains and food webs outcomes
Define a producer as an organism that generates its own organic nutrients, typically using sunlight through photosynthesis.
Food chains and food webs outcomes
Define a consumer as an organism that obtains energy by consuming other organisms.
Food chains and food webs outcomes

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