Prelims 2014 · Environment · Question 60
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain?
Answer
Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
- (a) Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings: Diatoms are phytoplankton/producers. Small crustaceans feed on them, and herrings feed on zooplankton/crustaceans. Correct.
- (b) Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings: Consumers cannot come before producers in a food chain. Crustaceans feed on diatoms, not vice versa. Incorrect.
- (c) Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans: Herrings do not directly precede crustaceans in this chain; crustaceans are the intermediate consumers feeding on diatoms. Incorrect.
- (d) Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms: Producers must be at the base of the food chain, so diatoms cannot come last. Incorrect.