Q. Consider the following statements:
- A food web shows the main food links and interconnection of many food chains
- Ecological Efficiency denotes ratio between energy flow at different points along a food chain
Which among the above is / are correct statements?
Answer:
Both 1 & 2
Notes: Both of the statements are correct regarding ecological concepts:
- A food web shows the main food links and interconnection of many food chains: This is an accurate description of a food web. A food web is a representation of the various paths through which energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. It is a complex network of interconnected food chains, illustrating how different plant and animal species are connected by their feeding relationships. Unlike a food chain that shows a singular path of energy flow, a food web reflects the multitude of feeding connections in an ecosystem, showing how multiple chains intersect and interact.
- Ecological Efficiency denotes ratio between energy flow at different points along a food chain: This statement is also correct. Ecological efficiency refers to the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain. Typically, only a small percentage (often cited as roughly 10%) of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next level; this is known as the 10% law of ecological efficiency. The rest of the energy is used for the organism’s metabolism or is dissipated as heat. This concept is important in understanding the limitations on the number of trophic levels in a food chain and the population sizes that different levels can support.