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Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem:
- Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them.
- Energy pyramid is always upright.
- The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 only
- c)3 only
- d)1 and 3 only
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in t...
- Except for the deep sea hydro-thermal ecosystem, sun is the only source of energy for all ecosystems on Earth. Of the incident solar radiation less than 50 per cent of it is photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Plants and photosynthetic bacteria (autotrophs), fix Sun’s radiant energy to make food from simple inorganic materials. Plants in a terrestrial ecosystem capture about 1% of the energy of sunlight that falls on their leaves and convert it into food energy. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- When green plants are eaten by primary consumers, a great deal of energy is lost as heat to the environment, some amount goes into digestion and in doing work and the rest goes towards growth and reproduction. An average of 10% of the food eaten is turned into its own body and made available for the next level of consumer.
- Therefore, 10% can be taken as the average value for the amount of organic matter that is present at each step and reaches the next level of consumers. This is known as “the 10 percent rule” and it limits the number of trophic levels an ecosystem can support. Since so little energy is available for the next level of consumers, food chains generally consist of only three or four steps. The loss of energy at each step is so great that very little usable energy remains after four trophic levels. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
- To compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem, an energy pyramid is most suitable. An energy pyramid, reflects the laws of thermodynamics, with conversion of solar energy to chemical energy and heat energy at each trophic level and with loss of energy being depicted at each transfer to another trophic level. Hence the pyramid is always upright, with a large energy base at the bottom. Hence statement 2 is correct.
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Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in t...
Statement 1: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them.
This statement is correct. Plants have the ability to capture sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, which is stored in the form of carbohydrates. It is estimated that plants capture around 1-2% of the energy from sunlight that falls on them. However, not all of this energy is transferred to higher trophic levels, as a significant portion is used by the plants for their own metabolic processes such as growth, reproduction, and respiration.
Statement 2: Energy pyramid is always upright.
This statement is correct. An energy pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. The pyramid is always upright because energy is transferred from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels. At each trophic level, there is a decrease in the amount of available energy, as energy is lost through metabolic processes such as respiration, heat loss, and waste production. Therefore, the energy pyramid represents a decrease in energy as we move up the trophic levels, resulting in an upright structure.
Statement 3: The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.
This statement is incorrect. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is directly influenced by the amount of energy lost at each trophic level. As mentioned earlier, energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, resulting in a decrease in available energy. This decrease in energy limits the number of trophic levels that can be sustained in an ecosystem. The higher the amount of energy lost at each trophic level, the fewer trophic levels can be supported. This is because there is not enough energy available to sustain a large number of organisms at higher trophic levels. Therefore, the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is dependent on the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.
To summarize, statement 1 and 2 are correct while statement 3 is incorrect. Plants do capture more than 50% of the energy from sunlight, and the energy pyramid is always upright. However, the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is dependent on the amount of energy lost at each trophic level.
This statement is correct. Plants have the ability to capture sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, which is stored in the form of carbohydrates. It is estimated that plants capture around 1-2% of the energy from sunlight that falls on them. However, not all of this energy is transferred to higher trophic levels, as a significant portion is used by the plants for their own metabolic processes such as growth, reproduction, and respiration.
Statement 2: Energy pyramid is always upright.
This statement is correct. An energy pyramid represents the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. The pyramid is always upright because energy is transferred from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels. At each trophic level, there is a decrease in the amount of available energy, as energy is lost through metabolic processes such as respiration, heat loss, and waste production. Therefore, the energy pyramid represents a decrease in energy as we move up the trophic levels, resulting in an upright structure.
Statement 3: The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.
This statement is incorrect. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is directly influenced by the amount of energy lost at each trophic level. As mentioned earlier, energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, resulting in a decrease in available energy. This decrease in energy limits the number of trophic levels that can be sustained in an ecosystem. The higher the amount of energy lost at each trophic level, the fewer trophic levels can be supported. This is because there is not enough energy available to sustain a large number of organisms at higher trophic levels. Therefore, the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is dependent on the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.
To summarize, statement 1 and 2 are correct while statement 3 is incorrect. Plants do capture more than 50% of the energy from sunlight, and the energy pyramid is always upright. However, the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is dependent on the amount of energy lost at each trophic level.
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Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Consider the following statements with respect to the energy flow in the ecosystem: Plants capture more than 50% of energy of the incident sunlight that falls on them. Energy pyramid is always upright. The number of trophic levels in an ecosystem is independent of the amount of energy lost in each trophic level.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 onlyc)3 onlyd)1 and 3 onlyCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an
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