NEST2026BiologyEcosystem
The trophic relationships between species in a habitat can be represented in the form of a food web matrix where, rows represent consumers/predators, and columns represent resources/prey. If the organism of a species in the row eats the organism of a particular species in the column, then a '1' is placed in the intersection. Otherwise a '0' is placed in the intersection. Such a matrix for species M – Q is given below
Options
- ASpecies P is both a secondary and tertiary consumer.
- BSpecies N is an omnivore.
- CScarcity of species M can directly affect primary consumers O and P.
- DThere are two producer species in this ecosystem.
Correct answer
A. Species P is both a secondary and tertiary consumer.
Step-by-step solution
From the given food web matrix, rows represent consumers and columns represent resources. A '1' indicates that the row species eats the column species. Analyzing the feeding relationships: Row M has all '0's, meaning M does not eat any other species. Thus, M is the only producer. Row N has a '1' for M, meaning N eats M. N is a primary consumer. Row O has '1's for M and N, meaning O eats M (producer) and N (primary consumer). O is both a primary and secondary consumer (an omnivore). Row P has '1's for N and O, meani