Question

Assertion :When a large fish eats small fish which eats water fleas and water fleas in turn eat phytoplanktons. In this chain, water fleas are primary consumers. Reason: Secondary consumers will be phytoplanktons.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion.
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion.
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.

Water fleas are primary consumers, small fishes are secondary consumers.

Phytoplanktons are the planktons consisting of microscopic plants. These are capable of conducting photosynthesis and are thus, called as producers i.e., primary producers in this food chain. Water fleas feed upon these producers and are primary consumers in this chain. These are then eaten up by small fish and later by big fish forming the secondary and tertiary consumers. Thus, the correct answer is option C.