Question

Match the columns I, II and III, and choose the correct combination from the options given.

	Column I		Column II	Column III
a.	1° Producer	1.	T1	K. Grasshopper
b.	1°Consumer	2.	T2	L. Wolf
c.	2°Consumer	3.	T3	M. Man
d.	3°Consumer	4.	T4	N. Phytoplankton

• A.
  a-1-N, b-2-K, c-3-L, d-4-M
• B.
  a-2-N, b-3-K, c-4-L, d-1-M
• C.
  a-1-N, b-2-M, c-3-K, d-4-L
• D.
  a-1-K, b-2-L, c-3-M, d-4-N

Answer 1

The correct option is A

a-1-N, b-2-K, c-3-L, d-4-M
Food chain
The food chain is the linear sequence where nutrients and energy gets transferred when one organism eats another.

Components of the food chain
The components of the energy flow in the ecosystem are studied in the form of a food chain with various trophic levels (nutritional status) and are as follows:- Producers (plant) → Primary consumers → Secondary consumers→ Tertiary consumers.

1° Producer-T1- Phytoplankton
Producers are present in trophic level one (T1) of the food chain. They contain light-trapping pigments and thus perform photosynthesis. They are the starting point of the food chain. For example, phytoplankton is present in trophic level one in the aquatic food chain.

Consumer- T2- grasshopper
The primary consumers form the second level of the food chain (T2). Nutrients are passed to them from the producers as they feed on the plants or producers. For example, grasshoppers feed on the leaves of small plants.

Consumer- T3- Wolf
The secondary consumer forms the third level of the food chain (T3), feeding on the primary consumers. Nutrients from the primary consumers are passed to them. For example, wolves are carnivores that can feed on primary consumers like deer.

Consumer- T4- Man
The tertiary consumer is placed on trophic level 4 (T4) as these organisms feed on secondary consumers, deriving energy from them. Man is an omnivore or tertiary consumer.

Final answer
c. a-1-N, b-2-K, c-3-L, d-4-M