What is true about any ecosystem?
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It is self regulatory
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It is self sustained
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Top carnivores have climax trophic level position
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All of the above
Reveal answer
Fill a bubble to check yourself
D
Correct answer
Explanation
- Ecosystems are said to be self-regulating or self-sustained in that each contains feedback mechanisms, which function to maintain the components of the system in one or other of its equilibrium states.
- An equilibrium state demonstrates the stability of ecosystems. Even in these stable states, the components of ecosystems are in dynamic exchanges, and these exchanges involve the build-up of energy or materials, which cycle the ecosystem either within a single equilibrium or between various equilibrium states.
- It is the adaptive capacity of ecosystems, that have provided both the stability and the enormous range of diversity on earth.
- Food chains start at trophic level 1 with primary producers such as plants, moved to herbivores at level 2, predators at level 3 and finish with carnivores or apex predators at level 4 or 5.
Thus, the correct answer is option D.