Suppose a plant is eaten by a mouse, the mouse is consumed by a snake, and the snake is in turn consumed by a hawk. What could be assumed about the level of available organic matter in the mouse versus the plant?(1 point)

Question

Responses

They both have the same amount of organic matter.
They both have the same amount of organic matter.

There will be less organic matter available.
There will be less organic matter available.

There will be more organic matter available.
There will be more organic matter available.

Organic matter does not transfer between the plant and the mouse.

Answer 1

The correct response is: There will be less organic matter available.

This is because, in a food chain, energy and organic matter are lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, respiration, and waste. As a result, the amount of organic matter available to the mouse from the plant will be less than the original amount in the plant.