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Question

Difficulty: EasyEcology and Environment

Arrange the following organisms in the correct sequence to show the direct flow of energy through a marine food chain, starting from the primary producer and ending with the apex predator.

  1. 1Phytoplankton converting sunlight into chemical energy
  2. 2Krill consuming microscopic algae
  3. 3Adélie penguins feeding on schooling crustaceans
  4. 4Leopard seals hunting seabirds

Answer

Phytoplankton converting sunlight into chemical energy → Krill consuming microscopic algae → Adélie penguins feeding on schooling crustaceans → Leopard seals hunting seabirds
Energy flows in a linear, unidirectional sequence from photosynthetic primary producers (phytoplankton) to primary consumers (krill), followed by secondary consumers (penguins), and finally to apex tertiary consumers (leopard seals).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary producer that captures external energy.
Phytoplankton are photosynthetic autotrophs and occupy the first trophic level.
Energy enters ecosystems through producers converting sunlight into organic compounds.
2
Identify the primary consumer (herbivore) feeding on the producer.
Krill consume phytoplankton and occupy the second trophic level.
Primary consumers derive nutrition directly from primary producers.
3
Identify the secondary consumer feeding on the primary consumer.
Adélie penguins consume krill and occupy the third trophic level.
Secondary consumers feed on herbivores to obtain energy.
4
Identify the tertiary consumer / top predator feeding on secondary consumers.
Leopard seals hunt penguins and occupy the fourth trophic level.
Tertiary consumers sit at the apex of this food chain by preying on secondary consumers.

Key Concept

Directional energy transfer across trophic levels in an ecosystem
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Ecology and Environment

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