Read the following statements carefully. (A) Nearly 25 percent of all insects are known to be phytophagous. (B) Thorns in Acacia and Cactus are the most common morphological means of defence. (C) Calotropis produces distasteful quinine to deter browsers. (D) Predators act as conduits for energy transfer across trophic levels. How many of the above statements are correct?

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is correct as nearly 25 percent of all insects are phytophagous, meaning they feed on plant sap and other plant parts. Statement (B) is correct because thorns in Acacia and Cactus are common morphological defences against herbivores. Statement (C) is incorrect because the weed Calotropis produces highly poisonous cardiac glycosides, not quinine, to deter grazing cattle and goats. Statement (D) is correct as predators act as conduits for energy transfer across trophic levels in an ecosystem. Thus, exac