Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Death of organism is the beginning of the detritus food chain/web.
2. Saprophytes meet their energy and nutrient requirements by degrading detritus.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Both 1 and 2
Notes: The detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter. It is made up of decomposers which are heterotrophic organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria. They meet their energy and nutrient requirements by degrading dead organic matter or detritus. These are also known as saprotrophs. Decomposers secrete digestive enzymes that breakdown dead and waste materials into simple, inorganic materials, which are subsequently absorbed by them.