Which of the following statements about the autotrophs is incorrect?
(A) They synthesise carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll
(B) They store carbohydrates in the form of starch
(C) They convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in the absence of sunlight
(D) They constitute the first trophic level in food chains
Answer
- Autos means self and troph means nutrition . Autotrophs are the organisms which have the ability to synthesize their own food.
- Autotrophs synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll by a process called photosynthesis .
- These carbohydrates are stored in the plant's body in the form of starch.
- Autotrophs are the producers i.e. they act as food source for all the other organisms that cannot synthesize their own food and therefore constitute the first trophic level in food chains .
Since light is a necessary factor to carry out photosynthesis, the correct answer is (c) they convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in absence of light.
