Consider the following kinds of organisms :
- 1. Copepods
- 2. Cyanobacteria
- 3. Diatoms
- 4. Foraminifera
Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans?
1 and 2
2 and 3
3 and 4
1 and 4
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2021
1. Copepods: These are small crustaceans belonging to zooplankton. They are consumers, typically feeding on phytoplankton or other smaller zooplankton.
2. Cyanobacteria: Also known as blue-green algae, these are photosynthetic bacteria. They are significant primary producers in both freshwater and marine environments, contributing substantially to global oxygen production.
3. Diatoms: These are a major group of algae and are among the most common types of phytoplankton. They are responsible for a large percentage of the world’s oxygen production and are a primary food source in marine food chains.
4. Foraminifera: These are single-celled protists with shells. While some species host symbiotic algae (which are primary producers), Foraminifera themselves are heterotrophic, meaning they consume other organisms (like bacteria or algae) or detritus. They are consumers, not primary producers.
Therefore, Cyanobacteria and Diatoms are primary producers in ocean food chains.