Question

Choose the correct statements concerning autotrophs in an ecosystem.

1. Autotrophs are also known as consumers because they feed on other organisms.
2. Photosynthetic plants, possessing chlorophyll, synthesize high-energy organic compounds using sunlight.
3. Certain autotrophs, like some bacteria, can synthesize food from chemical substances instead of sunlight.
4. Autotrophs form the basis of all ecosystems.

• A. 2, 3, 4
• B. None of these
• C. All
• D. 3 only

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 2, 3, 4

• Autotrophs, often called producers, are organisms capable of synthesizing their own food from inorganic sources.

• This process is primarily photosynthesis, where light energy is converted into chemical energy, but also includes chemosynthesis, which uses energy from chemical reactions.

• They are foundational to ecosystems because they convert raw inorganic materials into organic matter, making energy available to all other trophic levels.

• Without producers, higher trophic levels would not have a source of energy, and the ecosystem would collapse.