Statement I: Energy flow is unidirectional.
Statement II: First, plants capture solar energy and then, food is transferred from the producers to decomposers.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Both statements I and II are correct.
In an ecosystem, energy enters from the sun and passes from one trophic level to the next. It never flows back.
Statement I: Energy flow is unidirectional. — True. Energy moves in one direction only: from the sun to producers and then to consumers. At each step some energy is lost as heat, and it cannot be used again by the producers.
Statement II: First, plants capture solar energy and then, food is transferred from the producers to decomposers. — True. Green plants capture solar energy and store it in food. This food then passes along the food chain and finally reaches the decomposers, which break down dead remains.
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow – “… All organisms are dependent for their food on producers, either directly or indirectly. So you find unidirectional flow of energy from the sun to producers and then to consumers.”
Summary – “… Energy flow is unidirectional. First, plants capture solar energy and then, food is transferred from the producers to decomposers. Organisms of different trophic levels in nature are connected to each other for food or energy relationship forming a food chain.”