Concept explainers
Which trophic level(s) must be present to sustain any ecosystem?
producers only
producers and consumers
producers, detritivores, and decomposers
producers, consumers, detritivores, and decomposers
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.
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?
Chapter 29 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth (11th Edition)
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Human Biology: Concepts and Current Issues (8th Edition)
Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (7th Edition)
Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology (6th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach (2nd Edition)
Microbiology: An Introduction
- Organisms at the first trophic level ________. a. capture energy from a nonliving source b. are eaten by organisms at lower trophic levels c. are shown at the top of an energy pyramid d. are consumersarrow_forwardThe loss of an apex consumer would impact which trophic level of a food web? primary producers primary consumers secondary consumers all of the abovearrow_forwardOrganisms at the lowest trophic level in a tallgrass prairie are all _______. a. two steps away from the original energy input b. autotrophs c. heterotrophs d. both a and b e. both a and carrow_forward
- Primary productivity on land is affected by _______. a. nutrient availability c. temperature b. amount of sunlight d. all of the abovearrow_forwardThe process whereby oxygen is depleted by the growth of microorganisms due to excess nutrients in aquatic systems is called _________. a. dead zoning b. eutrophication c. retrophication d. depletionarrow_forwardThe producer in an ocean grazing food web is usually a _____. a. plant b. animal c. fungi d. planktonarrow_forward
- The amount of energy available at the highest trophic level in an ecosystem is determined by: a. only the gross primary productivity of the ecosystem. b. only the net primary productivity of the ecosystem. c. the gross primary productivity and the standing crop biomass. d. the net primary productivity and the ecological efficiencies of herbivores. e. the net primary productivity and the ecological efficiencies at all lower trophic levels.arrow_forwardWhich biogeochemical cycle does not have a gaseous component but cycles from the land to sediments in the ocean and back to the land? (a) carbon cycle (b) nitrogen cycle (c) phosphorus cycle (d) hydrologic cycle (e) neither a nor c has a gaseous componentarrow_forwardThis trophic level includes the herbivores primary producer tertiary consumer secondary consumer primary consumerarrow_forward
- This trophic level creates biomass from abiotic sources quaternary consumer primary consumer primary producer tertiary consumerarrow_forwardThis trophic level includes carnivores that eat herbivores Tertiary consumer Primary consumer Primary producer Secondary consumerarrow_forwardThis trophic level is the apex predator Quaternary consumer Primary consumer Primary producer Tertiary consumerarrow_forward
- Biology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxBiology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap...BiologyISBN:9781305073951Author:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning