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 What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug?
  • a)
    They are mammals found in India.
  • b)
    They are carnivores present in the top trophic level in the ecosystem.
  • c)
    They are part of a detritus food chain.
  • d)
    They are part of all grazing food chains. 
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slu...
Detritus Food Chain: Commonality among Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug

Detritus food chain refers to a food chain that begins with dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves, dead animals, and feces. The organisms that feed on these dead organic matter are called detritivores, and they play a crucial role in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients in the ecosystem.

The following points explain the commonality among Springtail, Fiddler crab, and Slug in the detritus food chain:

1. Detritivores: All three animals, Springtail, Fiddler crab, and Slug, are detritivores. Springtail is a tiny insect-like creature that feeds on decaying plant matter, fungi, and bacteria. Fiddler crabs are small crustaceans that live in mudflats and feed on dead plant matter and detritus. Slugs are mollusks that feed on decaying plant matter and other detritus.

2. Decomposers: Detritivores play a crucial role in breaking down dead organic matter into simpler forms that can be absorbed by plants and other organisms. Springtail, Fiddler crab, and Slug are decomposers that help in the decomposition of dead organic matter and release nutrients back into the ecosystem.

3. Bottom of the food chain: Detritus food chain starts at the bottom of the food chain as dead organic matter. Springtail, Fiddler crab, and Slug are part of the detritus food chain, which means they are at the bottom of the food chain and provide energy and nutrients to other organisms in the ecosystem.

In conclusion, the commonality among Springtail, Fiddler crab, and Slug is that they are all detritivores and decomposers that play a crucial role in the detritus food chain, which starts at the bottom of the food chain as dead organic matter.
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What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slu...
Detritus Food Chain: The food chain starts from dead organic matter of decaying animals and plant bodies to the micro-organisms and then to detritus feeding organisms called detrivores or decomposers then to herbivores and then to predators. 
  • Example of Detritus Food Chain: Litter --> springtail (insect) --> small spiders (carnivore) 
  • For example, forest floors and small streams receive a rain of leaves and other bits of material that the small animals use as a food source. The small pieces of organic matter, such as broken leaves, faeces, and body parts are known as detritus 
  • Typical detritivorous animals include millipedes, springtails, woodlice, dung flies, slugs, many terrestrial worms, sea stars, sea cucumbers, fiddler crabs, and some sedentary polychaetes such as worms of the family Terebellidae. Hence option (c) is the correct answer. 
  • The detrivores break the leaves and other organic material and thus making them available to still other organisms as a food source. The fungi and bacteria are also eaten by other detritus feeders. Some biologists believe that enormous amount of energy flow through detritus food chains
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A species that exertsan influence out of proportion to its abundance in an ecosystem is called a keystone species. The keystone species may influence both the species richness of communities and the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems. The sea star Pisaster the flow of energy and materials through ecosystems. The sea star Pisaster ochraceus, which lives in rocky intertidal ecosystems on the Pacific coast of North America, is also an example of a keystone species. Its preferred prey is the mussel Mytilus californianus . In the absence of sea- stars, these mussels crowd out other competitors in a broad belt of the intertidal zone. By consuming mussels, sea star creates bare spaces that are taken over by a variety of other species. A study at the University of washington demonstrated the influence of Pisaster on species richness by removing sea stars from selected parts of the intertidal zone repeatedly over a period of five years. Two major changes occured in the areas from which sea stars were removed. First, the lower edge of the 46. mussel bed extended farther down into the intertidal zone, showing that sea stars are able to eliminate mussels completely where they are covered with water most of the time. Second, and more dramatically, 28 species of animals and algae disappeared from the sea star removal zone. Eventually only Mytilus, the dominant competitor, occupied the entire substratum. Through its effect on competitive relationships, predation by Pisaster largely determines which species live in these rocky intertidal ecosystems.Q. Consider the following assumptions:1. The food chains/food web in an ecosystem are influenced by keystone species.2. The presence of keystone species is a specific characteristic of aquatic ecosystems.3. If the keystone species is completely removed from an ecosystem, it will lead to the collapse of the ecosystem.With reference to the passage, which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

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What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug?a)They are mammals found in India.b)They are carnivores present in the top trophic level in the ecosystem.c)They are part of a detritus food chain.d)They are part of all grazing food chains.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug?a)They are mammals found in India.b)They are carnivores present in the top trophic level in the ecosystem.c)They are part of a detritus food chain.d)They are part of all grazing food chains.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug?a)They are mammals found in India.b)They are carnivores present in the top trophic level in the ecosystem.c)They are part of a detritus food chain.d)They are part of all grazing food chains.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for What is common to the following animals: Springtail, Fiddler crab, Slug?a)They are mammals found in India.b)They are carnivores present in the top trophic level in the ecosystem.c)They are part of a detritus food chain.d)They are part of all grazing food chains.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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