Q. With reference to ‘Ecosystem’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Green plants in terrestrial ecosystem capture about 1% of energy of the sunlight that falls on their leaves.
2. Around 10% of organic matter reaches to the next higher level of consumers.
Select the correct answer from the code given below :
a) Only 2
b) Neither 1 nor 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Only 1
Correct Answer: c) Both 1 and 2
Question from UPPSC Prelims 2025
Explanation:
Statement 1: Correct. In terrestrial ecosystems, green plants convert only a very small fraction of the sunlight incident on their leaves into chemical energy—about 1% on average. This is a standard NCERT fact and reflects low photosynthetic (ecosystem-level) conversion efficiency.
Statement 2: Correct. This reflects Lindeman’s 10% law: roughly 10% of the energy (embodied in organic matter/biomass) at one trophic level is transferred to the next higher level of consumers; the remainder is lost via respiration, heat, and waste. While exact efficiencies vary, “around 10%” is the accepted rule-of-thumb.
Therefore, both statements are correct.
