The image given below represents a food web in which the alphabets represent various organisms.
Select the option which identifies the correct sequence of energy flow.
The image given below represents a food web in which the alphabets represent various organisms.
Select the option which identifies the correct sequence of energy flow.
The correct option is D ACF
Food chain is the series of organisms connected together in such a way that organisms which are placed at lower trophic levels are eaten by organisms at higher trophic levels.
The organisms in an ecosystem are classified as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
Producers: They occupy the 1st trophic level in food chains, they utilize sunlight and convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. E.g., Plants, cyanobacteria
Primary consumers: They feed on producers for their energy requirement and are placed in the second trophic level. Primary consumers are also considered as herbivores. E.g., Cow, deer
Secondary consumers: They rely on herbivores for food and energy requirements and are called carnivores. E.g., wolf
Tertiary consumers: They usually occupy the highest trophic level. These are considered as top carnivores or apex predators. E.g., Lion
The energy from the producers is transferred sequentially to various trophic levels.
Producers → Primary consumers →secondary consumers →Tertiary consumers
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.
As per the image given in the question, the correct sequence of energy flow: A (Producer) →C (Primary consumer) →F (Secondary consumer)
Food chain is the series of organisms connected together in such a way that organisms which are placed at lower trophic levels are eaten by organisms at higher trophic levels.
The organisms in an ecosystem are classified as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
Producers: They occupy the 1st trophic level in food chains, they utilize sunlight and convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. E.g., Plants, cyanobacteria
Primary consumers: They feed on producers for their energy requirement and are placed in the second trophic level. Primary consumers are also considered as herbivores. E.g., Cow, deer
Secondary consumers: They rely on herbivores for food and energy requirements and are called carnivores. E.g., wolf
Tertiary consumers: They usually occupy the highest trophic level. These are considered as top carnivores or apex predators. E.g., Lion
The energy from the producers is transferred sequentially to various trophic levels.
Producers → Primary consumers →secondary consumers →Tertiary consumers
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.
As per the image given in the question, the correct sequence of energy flow: A (Producer) →C (Primary consumer) →F (Secondary consumer)
