Question

Food chains are sometimes short because

(A) only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species.

(B) local extinction of a species causes the extinction of the other species in its food chain.

(C) most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as energy passes to the next higher level.

(D) most producers are inedible.

Short answer

1. The statement “only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species” isfalse.

2. The statement “local extinction of a species causes the extinction of the other species in its food chain” isfalse.

3. The statement “most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as energy passes to the next higher level” is true.

4. The statement “most producers are inedible” is false.

Step-by-step solution

Food chain

In ecology, the chain of passing energy sequentially from organisms at one trophic level to another is called the food chain.

Explanation of option ‘(A)’

In environmental science, the term herbivore represents living organisms, such as animals whose only diet is plant-based food.

Thus, more energy availability is there in the food chain for herbivores.

Therefore, the given statement is false.

Explanation of option ‘(B)’

The extinction in the food chain shows the explosion of the prey population due to the extinction of predatory species.

Thus, the species extinction in a food chain shows the predator dependence, not the amount of energy transferred.

Therefore, the given statement is false.

Explanation of option ‘(C)’

When biological organisms occupy a lower to a higher position in a food chain, it is called a trophic level.

Thus, the exact amount of energy is not transferred among the different trophic levels; less energy is available to higher animals.

Therefore, the given statement is true.

Explanation of option ‘(D)’

Examples of food chain producers are phytoplankton, green plants, and small shrubs.

Thus, the inedible producers in the food chain are associated with food quality.

Therefore, the given statement is false.