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Question #47659
The Question
Prolonged waterlogging of soil creates a hypoxic environment that fundamentally alters the metabolic pathways of soil decomposers. Which of the following is NOT a consequence of this shift in their glycolytic redox balance?
Options
- A.
Decomposers fail to oxidize NADH to NAD+ via the electron transport chain, shifting to fermentation and causing incomplete oxidation of detritus.
- B.
The accumulation of partially oxidized organic acids lowers soil pH and promotes ecosystem carbon sequestration by inhibiting further decomposition.
- C.
The rapid turnover of ATP during anaerobic glycolysis increases the cellular energy charge of decomposers, thereby enhancing secondary productivity.
- D.
The catabolism and mineralization steps of decomposition are severely retarded, creating a bottleneck in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients.
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
Heterotrophic Respiration | NADH/NAD+ Ratio | Ecosystem Energy Flow
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often confuse the 'Pasteur effect' (where the rate of glycolysis increases under anaerobic conditions) with an increase in overall energy charge or productivity.
While glycolysis speeds up, the net ATP yield is so poor that the cellular energy charge plummets.
Furthermore, NCERT explicitly states that decomposition is largely an oxygen-requiring process; anaerobiosis inhibits decomposition, leading to detritus buildup and a drop in secondary productivity.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Respiration in Plants - Class 11 |
| Concept | Glycolysis Redox Balance |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |