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Question #45154
The Question
An agro-ecosystem is converted into a strict monoculture of Golden Rice (transgenic Oryza sativa). Soon after, an aggressive alien weed species invades the field, exhibiting a high degree of fundamental niche overlap with the rice for soil nutrients and water. Which of the following statements regarding the ecological dynamics of this field is INCORRECT?
Options
- A.
The replacement of traditional landraces with a Golden Rice monoculture decreases genetic diversity, making the primary producers more vulnerable to biotic stresses.
- B.
Under limiting resource conditions, Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle dictates that the alien weed and Golden Rice cannot coexist indefinitely.
- C.
The standing crop of the primary producer trophic level in this invaded ecosystem is quantified by measuring the total living biomass of exclusively the Golden Rice at a given time.
- D.
The niche overlap between the alien weed and the crop reduces the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) allocated to the provisioning ecosystem services (grain yield).
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Golden Rice|Standing Crop quantification|Invasive_Species
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students frequently confuse 'Standing Crop' in an ecological sense (the total biomass of an entire trophic level) with 'Crop' in an agricultural sense (only the cultivated plant).
The trap exploits this semantic overlap.
Failing to recognize that invasive weeds are primary producers whose biomass must be included in the first trophic level's standing crop is a common misconception.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biotechnology and Its Applications - Class 12 |
| Concept | Golden Rice Nutrition |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |