Question

In the food chains given below, select the most efficient food chain in terms of energy:

• A. Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake
• B. Plants → Deer → Lion
• C. Plants → Man
• D. Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Small Fish → Big Fish

Hint:

Energy efficiency decreases at higher trophic levels in a food chain due to the loss of energy at each step.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

In food chains, energy efficiency tends to decrease as you move up the trophic levels due to the loss of energy at each level (approximately 90% of energy is lost as heat or used for metabolic activities). Phytoplankton (producers) provide energy directly to zooplankton, small fish, and subsequently to big fish. This food chain is relatively more efficient in energy transfer than the other listed options because it begins with primary producers that are efficiently consumed by the primary consumers and subsequent trophic levels. Therefore, the correct answer is option (4).