UPSC Prelims 2013 · Question 81 of 99

UPSC Prelims 2013 question on Food Chain Definition

With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements:

1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other.
2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species.
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None
Show answer

Answer: A. 1 only

Statement by statement

Statement 1 is correct because a food chain represents the sequence of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Statement 2 is incorrect because food chains operate between different species, not within the population of a single species.

Statement 3 is incorrect because a food chain shows feeding relationships, not the number of organisms eaten. Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Extra UPSC info

Interconnected food chains together form a food web, which provides stability to ecosystems.

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