Before You Begin
Question #46019
The Question
During the progression of hydrarch succession towards a mesic climax, intermediate waterlogged stages (such as the reed-swamp stage) exhibit a significant accumulation of organic matter. Which of the following abiotic limitations primarily dictates the slow turnover rate of the Detritus Food Chain (DFC) during this ecological transition?
Options
- A.
The high concentration of lignin and chitin in submerged aquatic macrophytes inherently resists fragmentation and catabolism.
- B.
Oxygen depletion in the waterlogged substrate inhibits aerobic decomposers, thereby slowing nutrient cycling and detritus turnover.
- C.
Excessive soil moisture accelerates the leaching of water-soluble inorganic nutrients, leaving the detritus pool devoid of catabolic enzymes.
- D.
The Grazing Food Chain (GFC) completely outcompetes the Detritus Food Chain (DFC) for available biomass in aquatic seral stages.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Detritus Food Chain Dominance | Hydrarch vs Xerarch Convergence | Decomposition Rate Modifiers
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often memorize the NCERT line that 'warm and moist environments favor decomposition' but overlook the critical caveat that 'anaerobiosis inhibits decomposition'.
The trap relies on the misconception that abundant water in a hydrosere would accelerate decomposition, whereas waterlogging actually creates an oxygen-depleted bottleneck that slows the Detritus Food Chain.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Ecosystem - Class 12 |
| Concept | Detritus Food Chain Dominance |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |