Observe the diagram and answer the question given below:
Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time called as :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Standing crop
Option (1) Standing crop — Correct. It is measured as biomass (fresh or dry weight) or as number per unit area.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 20-05-2026 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 30-05-2023 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow – “… Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time called as the standing crop. The standing crop is measured as the mass of living organisms (biomass) or the number in a unit area. The biomass of a species is expressed in terms of fresh or dry weight. Measurement of biomass in terms of dry weight is more accurate.”