Refer to the Figure

Multiple Choice

Refer to the figure. What ecosystem do these diagrams represent, and why is the biomass pyramid inverted (with a smaller biomass of primary producers than of primary consumers) ?

A) Open ocean; phytoplankton reproduce very rapidly and support many primary consumers.
B) Open ocean; individual phytoplankton contain much more energy than other producers.
C) Forest; most primary production is tied up in trees and is not counted as biomass.
D) Forest; energy flow in forests is more important than biomass.
E) Grassland; the turnover of grasses is very rapid, so they support many primary consumers.