Question

Which of the following is not a component of detritus food chain?

Options

• Dead Leaves

• Bacteria

• Fungi

• Zooplankton

Answer 1

Zooplankton

Explanation:

The detritus (decomposer) food chain consists of dead organic matter (e.g., dead leaves) and organisms that break it down, such as microbes like bacteria and fungi and detritivores that feed on detritus. Examples of detritivores/decomposers include earthworms, mushrooms, soil mites, and dung beetles, all of which consume dead organic material. Zooplankton, however, are primarily consumers of phytoplankton and belong to the grazing (producer-based) food chain rather than the detritus chain.