The correct option is (c) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment. In a forest ecosystem, these interactions create a complex network of interdependence known as a food web, rather than isolated food chains.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. In a natural ecosystem, food chains are not isolated sequences. They are interconnected to form a food web. Many organisms consume multiple types of prey and are consumed by multiple predators. Therefore, if one food chain is disturbed (e.g., a specific prey species declines), it impacts the predators and other species linked to it in the wider food web.
- Statement 2 is Correct. Interdependence is a fundamental characteristic of any ecosystem. In a forest, plants depend on soil for nutrients and animals for pollination and seed dispersal. Conversely, animals depend on plants for food and shelter, and decomposers depend on dead organic matter from both. Every component plays a specific role in sustaining the system.
- Statement 3 is Correct. Trees are the primary producers and the dominant structural component of a forest ecosystem. They provide energy (via photosynthesis), habitat, and microclimate regulation. The removal of trees disrupts the energy flow to consumers, destroys habitats, and alters soil and water cycles, thereby affecting all other biotic and abiotic components of the forest.
Key Takeaway:
Ecosystems are sustained by the interdependence of their components. Food chains are linked into food webs, ensuring that a disturbance in one part affects the whole, and primary producers (trees) are foundational to the system's survival.