Question

If frog population in paddy fields declines all of a sudden,

1. What will be the effect on paddy crop?
2. Number of which consumers will decline and which will increase?
3. Name the Indian states where paddy is cultivated on a large scale.

Answer 1

1. If the frog population decreases, the grasshopper population will increase. As a result, the paddy fields will become infested with insect pests.
2. If the food chain is disturbed, it causes an imbalance in the ecosystem. In the food chain Paddy → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake, the frog is the secondary consumer. If the number of frogs decreases, the snake population at the tertiary consumer level also declines due to a lack of food. At the same time, the grasshopper population increases because there are fewer frogs to control them. This leads to reduced paddy production. The decrease in snakes also increases the populations of rats and other rodents from nearby areas, which are secondary consumers.
3. If the frog population declines, it will cause an imbalance in the entire ecosystem. The populations of prey and predators will change, disrupting the food chain.