Question

question 1 (10 points)
in a food pyramid, you would not
expect to find ______________.

a a large number of food producers supporting a few second order consumers
b third order consumers carrying out photosynthesis
c first - order consumers eating food producers
d decomposers feeding on living things

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option based on food pyramid/chain concepts:

• Option a: In a food pyramid, producers (e.g., plants) are numerous to support fewer higher - order consumers (like herbivores, then carnivores), so this is expected.
• Option b: Third - order consumers are typically carnivores (e.g., a lion eating a gazelle - eater). Photosynthesis is done by producers (autotrophs), not consumers (heterotrophs) which depend on other organisms for food. So third - order consumers can't do photosynthesis, this is not expected.
• Option c: First - order consumers (herbivores) eat food producers (plants), which is a basic part of the food chain, so this is expected.
• Option d: Decomposers break down dead or decaying organisms (and can also feed on living things in some cases, like parasitic fungi on living plants), so this can occur.

Answer:

b. third order consumers carrying out photosynthesis