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Introduction: Transfer of energy from one organism to another organism in a linear sequence is called food chain. Food chain starts with producer that is generally a plant and ends with a decomposer that is usually bacteria or other microorganisms.
Answer to Problem 1MC
Correct answer: Option b. “as energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, some is lost to the environment”.
Explanation of Solution
Reason for the correct answer:
Option b. is given as “as energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, some is lost to the environment”.
During transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next trophic level, the efficiency of energy transfer is only 10%. For example, if the 10,000 kcal of energy is produced in plants, the herbivorous gets 1000 kcal only and it is again reduced to 100 kcal for carnivorous. It shows that energy is not transferred 100% from one organism or trophic level to the next organism or trophic level.
Hence, option b. is correct.
Reasons for the incorrect answers:
Option a. is given as “a top carnivore requires less energy than a producer”.
Top carnivores get only least amount of energy by energy flow. However, they need more amount of energy for all their activities.
Hence, option a. is incorrect.
Option c. is given as “as nutrient molecules are transferred from one trophic level to the next, some are destroyed”.
Chemical nutrients are recycled back when they are transferred or consumed from one trophic level to the next trophic level by nutrient cycle. They could not be destroyed by the transfer.
Hence, option c. is incorrect.
Option d. is given as “biological magnification of toxic substances kills many top predators”.
Biological magnification is a toxic substance that is stored in fatty tissues and it cannot be destroyed. The concentration of toxic substance increases with the food chain when it goes to high trophic level and it may be fatal to the top carnivores. However, it is not responsible for the abundance or big biomass of plants.
Hence, option d. is incorrect.
Hence, options a., c., and d. are incorrect.
Abundance of producer helps to transfer more energy in food chain because some energy get lost in the environment.
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Chapter 29 Solutions
Pearson eText Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology -- Instant Access (Pearson+)
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