Biology: Life on Earth (11th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780134168296
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk, Bruce E. Byers
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 29, Problem 1MC

Which trophic level(s) must be present to sustain any ecosystem?

  1. producers only

  2. producers and consumers

  3. producers, detritivores, and decomposers

  4. producers, consumers, detritivores, and decomposers

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The ecosystem is sustained by the interaction of biotic (living organisms) and abiotic components (like climate, environment, water, and soil). Each organism in the biotic component is categorized in various trophic levels through which energy passes. To sustain an ecosystem, a healthy interaction among different components present in the ecosystem is necessary. The members of biotic component seek their nutritional support from the abiotic component of the ecosystem and return the nutrients back into the abiotic pool at each trophic level. Thus, the nutrients and energy keep recycling in the ecosystem.

Answer to Problem 1MC

Correct answer:

To sustain an ecosystem producers, consumers, detritivores, and decomposers must be present. All tropic levels are necessary to keep the nutrient cycle going.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation for the correct answer:

Option (d) is given as producers, consumers, detritivores, and decomposers. All these are required to sustain an ecosystem. This statement is true because in any ecosystem, the energy flows from one trophic level to the next. Every trophic level has its own purpose in an ecosystem. The first trophic level is producers or autotrophs that are capable of producing food themselves. Consumers are organism that obtains food by feeding on producers or other organisms. Detritivores and decomposers are responsible for the decomposition of dead and waste material. Thus, all tropic levels maintain the ecosystem. Therefore, option (d) is a correct answer.

Explanation for incorrect answers:

Option (a) is given that producers only are able to uphold any ecosystem. This is false because if only producers would be present, their number would increase tremendously and no organism would be present to eat or decompose them. This would cease the nutrient flow and eventually ecosystem would collapse. So, it is an incorrect answer.

Option (b) is given that only producers and consumers can support any ecosystem. This statement is false as the energy will flow from producers to consumers but without detritivores and decomposers, dead and waste material would accumulate. The absence of decomposition would terminate the availability of nutrients for the producers. Thus, their growth would cease, resulting in their death, hence disintegration of the ecosystem would occur. So, it is an incorrect answer.

Option (c) is given as producers, detritivores, and decomposers. Consumers are organism that obtains food by feeding on other organisms or organic matter due to lack of the ability to manufacture own food from inorganic sources. Absence of any of these levels disrupts the energy flow, due to which the ecosystem would collapse. So, it is an incorrect answer.

Hence, options (a), (b), and (c) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that all trophic levels hold a unique place in an ecosystem. It is through each trophic level that the energy travels in the ecosystem in the form of nutrients, thus maintaining nutrient cycle and supporting the ecosystem.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
03:56
Students have asked these similar questions
According to a recent study, 1 out of 50,000 people will be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis can be caused by a mutant form of the CFTR gene (dominant gene symbol is F and mutant is f). A. Using the rate of incidence above, what is the frequency of carriers of the cystic fibrosis allele for CFTR in the US? (3 pts) B. In a clinical study, 400 people from the population mentioned in (A.) were genotyped for BRCA1 Listed below are the results. Are these results in Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium? Use Chi Square to show whether or not they are. (3 pts) BRCA1 genotype # of women 390 BB Bb bb 10 0 12pt Paragraph L BIUAV V T² v V
Outline a method for using apomixis to maintain feminized CannabisAssume apomixis is controlled by a single dominant gene. You can choose the type of apomixis: obligate or facultative, gametophytic or sporophytic. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of your proposed method.
Kinetics: One-Compartment First-Order Absorption 1. In vivo testing provides valuable insight into a drug’s kinetics. Assessing drug kinetics following multiple routes of administration provides greater insight than a single route of administration alone. The following data was collected in 250-g rats following bolus IV, oral (PO), and intraperitoneal (ip) administration.  Using this data and set of graphs, determine:(calculate for each variable) (a) k, C0, V, and AUC* for the bolus iv data  (b) k, ka, B1, and AUC* for the po data  c) k, ka, B1, and AUC* for the ip data  (d) relative bioavailability for po vs ip, Fpo/Fip  (e)absolute ip bioavailability, Fip  (f) absolute po bioavailability, Fpo
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305112100
Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Biology
ISBN:9781305967359
Author:STARR
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Text book image
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:OpenStax
Text book image
Aquaculture Science
Biology
ISBN:9781133558347
Author:Parker
Publisher:Cengage
Text book image
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap...
Biology
ISBN:9781305073951
Author:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Energy flow in ecosystem; Author: MooMooMath and Science;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jBV9vJmXZI;License: Standard youtube license