Identify the incorrect statement

‘The energy available to the producers is maximum’ because:

options

1. It is the first trophic level which absorbs 1% of light energy directly from the source.
2. It utilizes the most of the chemical energy for its own respiration, growth, reproduction, movement etc.
3. It utilizes 10% of light energy and transfers the rest to the next trophic level.
4. It transfers only 10% of light energy to the next trophic level

It utilizes 10% of light energy and transfers the rest to the next trophic level.

Reason — Producers (green plants) form the first trophic level in a food chain so they absorb about 1% of the sunlight that reaches them and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis which is stored in plant biomass and is the maximum energy available to any trophic level in the ecosystem.

However, producers use most of this energy for their own metabolic activities such as respiration, growth and reproduction and only about 10% of the energy is transferred to the next trophic level (herbivores).

Therefore, the statement claiming that producers “utilize 10% and transfer the rest” is incorrect — it’s actually the opposite.