Question

Read the four statements given below and select the option having two correct statements: 

1. A lion eating a deer and a sparrow feeding on grains are ecologically similar in being consumers.
2. Predator starfish Pisaster helps in maintaining species diversity of some invertebrates.
3. Predators ultimately lead to extinction of prey species.
4. Production of chemicals nicotine and strychnine by plants are metabolic disorders.

Options

• i and iii

• ii and iv

• i and ii

• iii and iv

Answer 1

i and ii

Explanation:

Statements i and ii are correct, while statements iii and iv are incorrect and they can be corrected as

• Predators generally maintain equality between species diversity. In cases in which the prey is excessively exploited, extinction may ensue, subsequently leading to the demise of the predator population due to a lack of food.
• The production of nicotine and strychnine by plants serves as a defence mechanism against grazers and herbivores.