Question

Fill in the blanks (A – D) with the appropriate terms with respect to the detritus food chain (DFC).

The detritus food chain begins with ___A___. It is composed of decomposers which are ____B__ organisms, mainly ___C___. They meet their energy and nutrient requirement by degrading ____D____.

• A. A - detritus, B - autotrophic, C – earthworm, D - dead organic matter
• B. A - dead organic matter, B - heterotrophic, C - fungi and bacteria, D – detritus
• C. A – dead organic matter, B – autotrophic, C - fungi and plants, D – dead organic matter
• D. A – grass, B – heterotrophic, C – fungi and bacteria, D – dead organic matter

Answer 1

The correct option is B A - dead organic matter, B - heterotrophic, C - fungi and bacteria, D – detritus

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.

There are two types of food chain: grazing food chain (GFC) and detritus food chain (DFC).

The grazing food chain begins with green plants (autotrophs) which synthesise the food using sunlight and pass on the energy to herbivores and then to carnivores.

Detritus food chain is the type of food chain that begins with dead and decaying organic material (detritus). It is composed of decomposers like bacteria and fungi (heterotrophic organisms) which meet their energy requirements by degrading the dead organic matter (detritus).