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In an aquatic ecosystem, a student obser...

In an aquatic ecosystem, a student observed that the lowest tier of the biomass, pyramid was much narrower than the rest. The main producers of this ecosystem most likely are:

A

single-celled protists

B

aquatic plants

C

grasses

D

all the above.

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To solve the question regarding the main producers in an aquatic ecosystem where the lowest tier of the biomass pyramid is much narrower than the rest, we can follow these steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding the Biomass Pyramid**: - In an ecosystem, the biomass pyramid represents the distribution of biomass among different trophic levels. The base typically consists of producers, while the higher levels consist of consumers. 2. **Identifying the Inverted Pyramid**: - The question states that the lowest tier (producers) is much narrower than the tiers above it. This indicates an inverted pyramid, which is unusual because typically, producers have the largest biomass. 3. **Analyzing the Producers**: - In aquatic ecosystems, the main producers are usually aquatic plants and phytoplankton. However, in this case, the narrow base suggests that the primary producers are not abundant. 4. **Considering Single Cell Protists**: - The video transcript mentions single cell protists as a possible answer. These organisms can perform photosynthesis and are autotrophic, but they tend to have a lower biomass compared to larger aquatic plants. 5. **Conclusion**: - Given that the biomass at the base is narrow, it suggests that the producers are likely to be single cell protists (like certain types of phytoplankton) rather than larger aquatic plants. Therefore, the main producers of this ecosystem are most likely **single cell protists**. ### Final Answer: The main producers of this aquatic ecosystem are **single cell protists**. ---
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