Question:

In a terrestrial ecosystem, detritus food chain is the major conduit for energy flow. Solar energy is the direct source for energy supply in a detritus food chain.

Updated On: Jul 28, 2022

If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
If assertion is true but reason is false
If both assertion and reason are false

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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

There are two types of food chains: grazing food chain and detritus food chain. Detritus food chains are those which start from the dead bodies of animals or fallen leaves etc. In terrestrial ecosystems, detritus food chain is the major conduit of energy flow, while in aquatic ecosystems, grazing food chain is the major conduit of energy flow. As the detritus food chains depend upon the dead organic matter hence, these are not directly dependent upon solar energy.

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Concepts Used:

Energy Flow through Ecosystems

The energy flow in the ecosystem is one of the major factors that support the survival of such a large number of organisms. For almost all lifeforms on earth, solar energy is the primary source of energy. It is entertaining to find that we receive less than 50 % of the sun’s effective radiation on the earth. When we say effective radiation, we mean the radiation, which can be utilized by plants to carry out photosynthesis.

The energy flow takes place throughout the food chain and food web. During the process of energy flow in the ecosystem, plants being the producers absorb sunlight with the help of the chloroplasts and a part of it is converted into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. This energy is stored in different organic products in the plants and passed on to the primary consumers in the food chain when the herbivores consume the plants as food. Then followed by the secondary consumers. Finally, when tertiary consumers consume the carnivores, energy will again be degraded. Thus, the energy flow is unidirectional in nature.