Detritus Food Chain & Decomposers — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptThe detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter. It is made up of decomposers which are heterotrophic organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria. They meet their energy and nutrient requirements by degrading dead organic matter or detritus. These are also known as saprotrophs (sapro: to decompose). Decomposers secrete digestive enzymes that breakdown dead and waste materials into simple, inorganic materials, which are subsequently absorbed by them.
Which of the following statements are correct? 1. The stratification of plants in a forest ecosystem influences productivity levels. 2. Secondary productivity is higher than NPP in all ecosystems. 3. Detritus food chain starts with decomposers breaking down organic matter. 4. Standing crop biomass decreases progressively at higher trophic levels. 5. In aquatic ecosystems, pyramid of biomass may be inverted.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: D — 1, 3, 4, 5
Stratification affects light capture and productivity. Secondary productivity is not always higher than NPP. DFC starts with decomposers. Standing crop decreases with trophic level. Biomass pyramid is inverted in sea ecosystems.
What does NCERT say about detritus food chain DFC?
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Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.