The correct option is
C Assertion is a true statement but the reason is false
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which transfer of energy takes place in the form of food as one organism eats another organism.
A simple food chain is given below:
Grass → Goat → Man
However, an organism can sometimes eat multiple types of prey or be eaten by multiple predators, including ones at different trophic levels. Hence, each living organism in an ecosystem is a part of multiple food chains. Therefore, food chains can never occur independently in an ecosystem and various food chains are interconnected with each other forming an interlocked system known as the food web.
A network of interconnected food chains in a community of different organisms forms a food web. It is a more realistic representation of feeding patterns or relationships between living organisms.
Food webs allow organisms to feed on alternate prey, when the population of preferred prey is reduced. Thus, giving a chance for the endangered species to recover.
Food web is essential for the stability of the ecosystem. For instance, if a particular prey species goes extinct, then the predator will have an alternate source of food.
Hence, the assertion is true but the reason is false.