The Food Chain in a Well-Balanced Ecosystem

What does the observation of more squirrels and fewer raccoons in a well-balanced ecosystem indicate?

A. The ecosystem is out of balance

B. The energy flow in the food chain is disrupted

C. There is an overpopulation of squirrels

D. The ecosystem is thriving

Answer:

B. The energy flow in the food chain is disrupted

When there are more squirrels and fewer raccoons in a well-balanced ecosystem, it indicates a disruption in the energy flow within the food chain. In a typical food chain scenario where squirrels eat nuts, raccoons feed on squirrels, and bears feed on raccoons, the imbalance observed suggests that there may be a decrease in the number of raccoons due to various factors such as disease, predation, or habitat loss.

As a result, the population of squirrels may increase since there are fewer raccoons preying on them. This disruption in the natural predator-prey relationship can lead to an overpopulation of squirrels, which may have wider implications on the ecosystem as a whole.

In this scenario, the least amount of energy from the Sun will be received by the bear, which is the final consumer in the food chain. As the food chain progresses, the amount of energy transferred decreases, ultimately resulting in the bear receiving the least amount of energy from the sun.