Question

The terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can be differentiated on the basis of the fact that

• A. Organisms in terrestrial ecosystems are dependent on oxygen, while those in aquatic ecosystems are not.
• B. Nutrients are a limiting factor for populations in aquatic ecosystems but not for terrestrial populations.
• C. Producers make up the greatest amount of biomass in terrestrial ecosystems, while in aquatic ecosystems they do not.
• D. Sunlight is a limiting factor for populations in terrestrial ecosystems but not for populations in aquatic ecosystems.
• E. Energy in aquatic ecosystem is transferred from lower to higher trophic levels, but it moves in the opposite direction in aquatic ecosystems.

Answer 1

The correct option is C Producers make up the greatest amount of biomass in terrestrial ecosystems, while in aquatic ecosystems they do not.

Both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are dependent on oxygen. Availability of nutrients serves as a limiting factor for terrestrial ecosystems. Sunlight is limiting factor at depth in the aquatic ecosystem. In both cases, energy always flows from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels. Trees occupy the greatest biomass in the terrestrial ecosystem as producers and there is a progressive reduction of biomass in succeding trophic levels. The producers of aquatic ecosystem are small sized phytoplanktons and consumers overweigh them. Thus, the correct answer is C.