Question

Which of the following statements are correct?

1. The primary consumer is always a herbivore.

2. Tertiary consumers are always decomposers.

3. Producers convert inorganic substances into organic matter using sunlight.

• A. 1 & 3
• B. 2 & 3
• C. 1 & 2
• D. All are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 & 3

• Correct Answer: Option A) 1 & 3

• The primary consumer is always a herbivore - This statement is correct. Primary consumers are organisms that eat producers (plants and algae) and occupy the second trophic level in a food chain. By definition, primary consumers are herbivores as they consume only plant material.

• Tertiary consumers are always decomposers - This statement is incorrect. Tertiary consumers are carnivores that eat secondary consumers. They occupy the fourth trophic level in a food chain. Decomposers are organisms like fungi, bacteria, and some invertebrates that break down dead organic matter. Tertiary consumers and decomposers are completely different functional groups in an ecosystem.

• Producers convert inorganic substances into organic matter using sunlight - This statement is correct. Producers (mainly green plants, algae, and some bacteria) use photosynthesis to convert inorganic compounds (carbon dioxide and water) into organic compounds (glucose) using energy from sunlight. This process is the foundation of nearly all food chains on Earth.