Correct Answer: Option C) 1 and 3 only
An ecosystem includes energy flow through different trophic levels. - This statement is correct. In an ecosystem, energy flows in a unidirectional manner through different trophic levels, starting from producers (like plants) to primary consumers (herbivores), then to secondary consumers (carnivores), and so on. This energy transfer is a fundamental characteristic of ecosystems.
Each successive trophic level receives 20% of the energy from the previous level.- This statement is incorrect. According to the 10% law proposed by Raymond Lindeman, only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level. The remaining 90% is lost as heat through respiration and other metabolic processes, or remains undigested as waste. The statement incorrectly mentions 20% instead of 10%.
Consumers are classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary based on feeding habits. - This statement is correct. Primary consumers are herbivores that feed directly on producers. Secondary consumers are carnivores that feed on primary consumers. Tertiary consumers are top predators that feed on secondary consumers. This classification is indeed based on their feeding habits and position in the food chain.
