Which of the following statements about the autotrophs is incorrect?
A. They synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
B. They store carbohydrates in the form of starch.
C. They convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in the absence of sunlight.
D. They constitute the first trophic level in food chains.
Answer:C
Which of the following statements about the autotrophs is incorrect?
A. They synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. B. They store carbohydrates in the form of starch. C. They convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in the absence of sunlight. D. They constitute the first trophic level in food chains.
Explanation: Autotrophs obtain the required carbon and energy requirements from carbon dioxide and sunlight. They combine carbon dioxide and water to form carbohydrates. The main photosynthetic pigment is chlorophyll, which helps to trap the sunlight to carry out the light reaction of photosynthesis to synthesise carbohydrates. Since autotrophs are the only organisms that can fix the atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, these organisms occupy first trophic level in food chain and serve as a source of food and energy for organisms of higher trophic levels.