Identify the correct sequence of organisms in food chain. A. Barnacle Larva B. Diatoms C. Herring D. Arrow Worm Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
B, A, D, C
Understanding Food Chains in Marine Ecosystems
A food chain shows the flow of energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem. It starts with producers, which make their own food, and moves up through various levels of consumers.
Identifying Organisms and Trophic Levels
Let's look at the organisms provided and their typical roles in a marine food chain:
- Diatoms: These are single-celled algae, major components of phytoplankton. They are primary producers, converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
- Barnacle Larva: Barnacles start their life as planktonic larvae (e.g., nauplii and cyprids). These larvae feed on phytoplankton like diatoms. They are primary consumers (herbivores or filter feeders on producers).
- Arrow Worm (Chaetognath): These are predatory marine invertebrates that are part of the zooplankton. They feed on other smaller zooplankton, including copepods and larval stages of other organisms like barnacle larvae. They act as secondary consumers.
- Herring: This is a type of fish. Herring typically feed on plankton, including copepods, amphipods, and sometimes smaller fish or larval stages of other organisms like arrow worms. They can act as secondary or tertiary consumers depending on their diet at different life stages or the specific food chain, but often feed on organisms that eat primary consumers or even secondary consumers like arrow worms.
Determining the Correct Food Chain Sequence
Based on the typical feeding relationships, the energy flow starts with the producer and moves up the trophic levels:
- Producers: Diatoms capture energy from the sun.
- Primary Consumers: Barnacle larvae feed on Diatoms.
- Secondary Consumers: Arrow worms feed on Barnacle larvae.
- Tertiary Consumers (or higher secondary): Herring feed on Arrow worms.
This establishes the sequence: Diatoms → Barnacle Larva → Arrow Worm → Herring.
Mapping this back to the given options (A=Barnacle Larva, B=Diatoms, C=Herring, D=Arrow Worm), the sequence B, A, D, C corresponds to Diatoms, Barnacle Larva, Arrow Worm, Herring.
Food Chain Sequence Summary
| Position in Chain | Organism | Trophic Level | Feeds On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Diatoms (B) | Producer | Sunlight (Photosynthesis) |
| 2nd | Barnacle Larva (A) | Primary Consumer | Diatoms |
| 3rd | Arrow Worm (D) | Secondary Consumer | Barnacle Larva |
| 4th | Herring (C) | Tertiary Consumer | Arrow Worm |
Therefore, the correct sequence representing the flow of energy in this food chain is Diatoms, Barnacle Larva, Arrow Worm, Herring, which corresponds to B, A, D, C.
Revision Table: Key Food Chain Concepts
| Concept | Definition | Example in this Food Chain |
|---|---|---|
| Food Chain | A linear sequence showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another as they consume each other. | Diatoms → Barnacle Larva → Arrow Worm → Herring |
| Producer | Organism that creates its own food, usually through photosynthesis. | Diatoms |
| Consumer | Organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms. | Barnacle Larva, Arrow Worm, Herring |
| Trophic Level | The position an organism occupies in a food chain. | Producer (1st level), Primary Consumer (2nd level), Secondary Consumer (3rd level), Tertiary Consumer (4th level) |
Additional Information on Marine Food Chains
Marine food chains often start with phytoplankton (like diatoms) as the primary producers. These are grazed upon by zooplankton (like barnacle larvae, copepods, etc.), which are the primary consumers. Secondary consumers, such as arrow worms or small fish, feed on zooplankton. Tertiary consumers, like larger fish (e.g., herring) or marine mammals, feed on secondary consumers or sometimes primary consumers. Food chains are interconnected to form complex food webs in real ecosystems. Understanding these feeding relationships is crucial for studying ecosystem dynamics and energy flow.
Important Questions from Biogeography
In the soil-forming regime, which one of the following occurs in a region where evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation significantly?
Which one of the following is not a soil forming factor ?
Which one of the following is the natural vegetation of South east China?
Consider the following statements regarding soils :
1. Soils having a very high content of sodium and calcium and pH of more than 7.0 are alkaline soils.
2. Black cotton soil had developed on the Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Laterite soils are characterised by a deep weathered layer from which silica has been leached.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The following 6(Six) items consist of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement I: The Laterite soils develop in areas with high temperature and high rainfall.
Statement II: Laterite soils are the result of an intense leaching process.
