Read the following statements carefully :
( i ) primary succession is a very slow process taking thousands of years for the climax to be reached.
(ii) The energy at a higher trophic level is always more than at a lower level
(iii) Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simple inorganic substances. This process is called fragmentation .
(iv ) All succession, whether taking place in water or on land, proceeds to a similar climax community : the mesic condition . Which of the two above statements are correct ?

Options

A. (i) and (ii)
B. (ii) and (iii)
C. (i) and (iv)
D. (iii) and (iv)

Answer

To solve the question, we need to evaluate each of the four statements provided and determine which two are correct.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Evaluate Statement (i)**:
- **Statement**: "Primary succession is a very slow process taking thousands of years for the climax to be reached."
- **Analysis**: This statement is correct. Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil is not initially present. It involves the gradual establishment of a biological community, which can indeed take thousands of years to reach a climax community.

2. **Evaluate Statement (ii)**:
- **Statement**: "The energy at a higher trophic level is always more than at a lower level."
- **Analysis**: This statement is incorrect. In ecological pyramids, energy decreases as you move up trophic levels due to energy loss at each level (e.g., through metabolic processes). Thus, energy at higher trophic levels is always less than at lower levels.

3. **Evaluate Statement (iii)**:
- **Statement**: "Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simple inorganic substances. This process is called fragmentation."
- **Analysis**: This statement is incorrect. The process described is actually called catabolism, not fragmentation. Fragmentation refers to the breaking down of detritus into smaller pieces, while catabolism involves the decomposition into simpler inorganic substances.

4. **Evaluate Statement (iv)**:
- **Statement**: "All succession, whether taking place in water or on land, proceeds to a similar climax community: the mesic condition."
- **Analysis**: This statement is correct. Both aquatic and terrestrial successions can lead to a climax community that exhibits mesic conditions, which are characterized by moderate moisture levels.

### Conclusion:
Based on the evaluations:
- Correct Statements: (i) and (iv)
- Incorrect Statements: (ii) and (iii)

### Final Answer:
The two correct statements are **(i) and (iv)**.