wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

Why are decomposers excluded from the food chain?

A

They do not directly interact with any organisms.

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
B

They are too minute to be considered.

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
C

They act at all trophic levels of food chains.

Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses
D

They're considered irrelevant.

No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today!
Open in App
Solution

The correct option is B. They act at all trophic levels of food chains.

Decomposers feed on organisms of all trophic levels as they feed on their dead and decaying matter. This is why mostly decomposers do not occupy a specific level in the food chain as their source of energy can be an organism at only one specific trophic level. This makes it hard to assign them to a single trophic level in the food chain. As a result, decomposers aren't included in the food chain.

Decomposers play a major role in decaying the organic matter of dead organisms and they have a huge population which makes them relevant at all trophic levels. They can decompose the dead organisms with which they interact directly.


flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
30
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
Kingdom Animalia
BIOLOGY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon