Question
With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements :
1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other.
2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species.
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Answer:
A
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Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. A food chain is a linear representation of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem, illustrating the order in which organisms feed upon each other. It shows the transfer of energy and nutrients from one organism to another.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Food chains are not limited to within the populations of a single species. They involve multiple species and their interactions within an ecosystem. A food chain typically starts with a producer (plants or algae) and includes primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores), and sometimes tertiary consumers (top predators).
Statement 3 is incorrect. A food chain does not specifically illustrate the numbers of each organism that are eaten by others. It primarily shows the flow of energy and the feeding relationships between different organisms.