Which of the following options represents the correct order of energy flow in an ecosystem?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

RRB Group D Previous Year Paper (Held on: 26 Aug 2022 Shift 2)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Carnivorous ← Vegetarian ← Producer ← Sunlight

Key Points

Option 2 correctly represents the order of energy flow in an ecosystem.
Energy flow in an ecosystem typically follows the sequence: Sunlight → Producers → Herbivores → Carnivores.
In this sequence:
- Sunlight is the primary source of energy.
- Producers (plants) convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
- Herbivores (vegetarians) consume producers to obtain energy.
- Carnivores consume herbivores to obtain energy.
This flow of energy is crucial for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.

Additional Information

The energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional, meaning it flows in one direction only, from the sun to higher trophic levels.
This flow of energy is governed by the laws of thermodynamics, particularly the second law, which states that energy transfer leads to a loss of usable energy, typically in the form of heat.
The efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels is generally low, with only about 10% of the energy being passed on to the next level.
This inefficiency limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem, as energy diminishes with each transfer.