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Multiple Choice
How does nitrogen fixed by bacteria ultimately become available to herbivores and carnivores in an ecosystem?
A
Plants absorb fixed nitrogen and incorporate it into organic molecules, which are then consumed by herbivores and passed on to carnivores through the food chain.
B
Nitrogen is only available to carnivores through drinking water that contains dissolved nitrogen gas.
C
Herbivores and carnivores directly absorb atmospheric nitrogen ($N_2$) through their skin.
D
Herbivores and carnivores produce their own nitrogen compounds through photosynthesis.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen ($N_2$), which is inaccessible to most organisms, into ammonia ($NH_3$) or related compounds that can be used by plants. This process is called nitrogen fixation.
Step 2: Learn how plants utilize fixed nitrogen. Plants absorb the fixed nitrogen (e.g., ammonia or nitrate) from the soil and incorporate it into organic molecules such as amino acids and proteins, which are essential for their growth and development.
Step 3: Explore the transfer of nitrogen through the food chain. Herbivores consume plants and obtain nitrogen by digesting the organic molecules in plant tissues. This nitrogen is then used to build their own proteins and other nitrogen-containing compounds.
Step 4: Understand how carnivores obtain nitrogen. Carnivores consume herbivores and acquire nitrogen by digesting the proteins and other organic molecules present in the herbivores' tissues.
Step 5: Recognize the incorrect statements. Nitrogen is not absorbed directly by herbivores or carnivores from the atmosphere ($N_2$), nor is it produced by them through photosynthesis. Additionally, drinking water containing dissolved nitrogen gas does not provide nitrogen in a usable form for carnivores.