Which of the following is an example of a kelp Forest food chain?
A.Sea urchin > sunflower star> otter
B. Phytoplankton >otter>clam
C. Kelp>sea urchin>Otter***
D. Abalone >kelp>Otter
I think it’s c?
You are correct! Option C is the correct answer for an example of a kelp forest food chain. In this food chain, the kelp is the primary producer, the sea urchin is the primary consumer, and the otter is the secondary consumer.
To arrive at this answer, you can analyze the options and identify the key components of a food chain in a kelp forest ecosystem.
Firstly, in a food chain, energy flows from the primary producer to the primary consumer and then to the secondary consumer. The primary producers in a kelp forest are the kelp itself. Therefore, in the options, we need to look for an organism that feeds on the kelp.
In option A, the sea urchin feeds on the sunflower star, not the kelp. So, it does not fit the criteria for a kelp forest food chain.
In option B, phytoplankton is mentioned as the primary producer. However, phytoplankton is not specific to kelp forests; it can be found in a wide range of marine ecosystems. Therefore, option B is not a kelp forest food chain.
In option C, the kelp is indeed the primary producer, with the sea urchin as the primary consumer and the otter as the secondary consumer. This option aligns with a kelp forest food chain and is the correct answer.
Option D has the abalone feeding on the kelp, but the otter is not part of the food chain. Therefore, it does not represent a complete kelp forest food chain.
By analyzing the options and understanding the components of a food chain in a kelp forest ecosystem, you correctly determined that option C is an example of a kelp forest food chain. Great job!