Question

Which of the following statements regarding food chain is false?

• A. All animals depend on plants for their food requirement
• B. In terrestrial ecosystems, a large fraction of energy flows through detritus food chain
• C. The detritus food chain begins with dead organic matter
• D. Primary consumers belong to the first trophic level

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Primary consumers belong to the first trophic level

All animals depend on plants or autotrophs directly or indirectly for their food requirement. They are hence called, consumers and also heterotrophs. If they feed on the producer, they are called primary consumers. Obviously, the primary consumers will be herbivores. Some common herbivores are insects, birds and mammals in terrestrial ecosystems and molluscs in an aquatic ecosystem. Thus primary consumers belong to the second trophic level.