Consider the following statements:
1. In an aquatic ecosystem, a larger fraction of energy flows through grazing food chain than through detritus food chain.
2. In a terrestrial ecosystems, a larger fraction of energy flows through the detritus food chain than through grazing food chain.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
Grazing food chain begins with producers,present at the first trophic level. The plant biomass is then consumed by herbivores, which in turn are consumed by a variety of
carnivores. In an aquatic ecosystem, grazing food chain is the major conduit for energy flow.
Detritus food chain begins with detritus such as dead bodies of animals or fallen leaves,which are then broken down into simple,inorganic material by decomposers or detritivores. In a terrestrial ecosystem,detritus food chain is the major conduit for energy flow. Unlike in grazing web, all sub soil organisms are included in detritus food chain.