Question

1. Write the given food chain in the appropriate sequence.
   Grasshopper - Snake - Rice field - Eagle - Frog
2. In which ecosystem given the food chain is included? Explain the ecosystem.
3. If the frog population declines all of a sudden what will be the effect on paddy fields?

Answer 1

1. Paddy Field → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle
2. The given food chain belongs to the cropland ecosystem (terrestrial ecosystem).
   i. This ecosystem is man-engineered and artificially maintained by man by adding energy and planned manipulation.
   ii. Manmade/artificial ecosystem is less complex as compared to natural ecosystem.
   iii. This ecosystem relies on human efforts for its sustenance. Without human intervention and supervision, such man-made ecosystems will disintegrate.
   iv. In the given ecosystem, paddy crops in the field are primary producers that obtain energy from the sun. This energy is transferred to the primary consumers (grasshoppers). Secondary consumers (frogs) feed on grasshoppers, which in turn pass on the energy to tertiary consumers (snakes). The apex consumers are eagles.
3. Considering that frogs feed on grasshoppers in a paddy field, if the population of frogs declines/decreases suddenly, then the number of grasshoppers feeding on paddy crops will increase. Thus, the production of paddy crops will decrease.