Pearson eText Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology -- Instant Access (Pearson+)
Pearson eText Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology -- Instant Access (Pearson+)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780135755785
Author: Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk
Publisher: PEARSON+
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Chapter 29, Problem 1MC
Summary Introduction

Introduction: Transfer of energy from one organism to another organism in a linear sequence is called food chain. Food chain starts with producer that is generally a plant and ends with a decomposer that is usually bacteria or other microorganisms.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Answer to Problem 1MC

Correct answer: Option b. “as energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, some is lost to the environment”.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct answer:

Option b. is given as “as energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, some is lost to the environment”.

During transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next trophic level, the efficiency of energy transfer is only 10%. For example, if the 10,000 kcal of energy is produced in plants, the herbivorous gets 1000 kcal only and it is again reduced to 100 kcal for carnivorous. It shows that energy is not transferred 100% from one organism or trophic level to the next organism or trophic level.

Hence, option b. is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect answers:

Option a. is given as “a top carnivore requires less energy than a producer”.

Top carnivores get only least amount of energy by energy flow. However, they need more amount of energy for all their activities.

Hence, option a. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as “as nutrient molecules are transferred from one trophic level to the next, some are destroyed”.

Chemical nutrients are recycled back when they are transferred or consumed from one trophic level to the next trophic level by nutrient cycle. They could not be destroyed by the transfer.

Hence, option c. is incorrect.

Option d. is given as “biological magnification of toxic substances kills many top predators”.

Biological magnification is a toxic substance that is stored in fatty tissues and it cannot be destroyed. The concentration of toxic substance increases with the food chain when it goes to high trophic level and it may be fatal to the top carnivores. However, it is not responsible for the abundance or big biomass of plants.

Hence, option d. is incorrect.

Hence, options a., c., and d. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Abundance of producer helps to transfer more energy in food chain because some energy get lost in the environment.

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Students have asked these similar questions
The number of carnivores found at the top of an ecological pyramid is limited by thea. number of organisms above the top carnivores.b. number of trophic levels below the producers.c. biomass of the decomposers.d. amount of energy transferred to the top carnivores.
Akeystone species is one:a.that makes up a very large proportion of total community biomass.b.that feeds on a very large fraction of all available prey species.c.that is fed on by a very large fraction of all predators in itscommunity.d. whose feeding activities have adisproportionate effect on the structure of its community.e.that occupies the lowest level (the base) of the food web.
In an inverted trophic pyramid, biomass is present in the secondary carnivores than in the primary producers. Compared to terrestrial systems, aquatic systems are likely to feature inverted pyramids. A. more; much more B. more; about as C. more; much less D. less; much more E. less; much less
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