Question:

Read the given statements and select the correct option. Herbivores are also called as first order consumers. Herbivores obtain their food directly from plants.

Updated On: Jul 7, 2022

Both statements $1$ and $2$ are correct
Statement $1$ is correct but statement $2$ is incorrec
Statement $1$ is incorrect but statement $2$ is correct
Both statements $1$ and $2$ are incorrect

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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

All animals depend on plants for their food needs directly or indirectly. Hence, they are called as consumer and also heterotrophs. If they feed on the producers i.e., the plants directly they are called as primary consumers or first order consumers. Primary consumers are herbivores.

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Notes on energy flow through ecosystems

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.