Study the picture given below showing three food chains (a), (b) and (c) and answer the following questions: (i) Name the type of ecosystems that exist in food chains (b) and (c). (ii) The first trophic level in all food chains are producers. Why? What percentage of solar energy do these producers capture for their use? (iii) Why are the arrows shown in the diagram in one direction only and not vice versa? Justify.

Hint

The type of ecosystems that exist in food chains (b) and (c) are aquatic ecosystems. The first trophic level in all food chains are producers because they capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Producers capture about 1% of the solar energy that falls on their leaves. The arrows shown in the diagram are in one direction only because energy flows from one trophic level to the next, but not vice versa. This is because energy is lost at each trophic level, and it cannot be transferred back to the previous level.

Quick oral answer

The type of ecosystems that exist in food chains (b) and (c) are aquatic ecosystems. The first trophic level in all food chains are producers because they capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Producers capture about 1% of the solar energy that falls on their leaves. The arrows shown in the diagram are in one direction only because energy flows from one trophic level to the next, but not vice versa. This is because energy is lost at each trophic level, and it cannot be transferred back to the previous level.