Question

In an energy pyramid, how does energy increase and decrease?

Answer 1

In an energy pyramid, energy never increases; it always decreases as one approaches higher trophic levels.

Explanation:

This is in accordance with Lindeman's law: "The higher trophic level recieves 10% of the energy of the immediate lower trophic level."

Say for example we take a pond ecosystem. The phytoplanktons form 1000J from sunlight. Zooplanktons which consume phytoplanktons would recieve 100J. Small fishes would get 10J. Bigger fishes would recieve 1J.

It is the same case in any ecosystem. Energy always decreases in upper trophic levels. This is the reason the pyramid of energy is always upright.