Consider the following food chain:
plants are eaten by grasshoppers, which are eaten by mice, which are eaten by snakes.

what would happen to the other members of the food chain if the plant population was wiped out?
a.
the populations of grasshoppers, mice, and snakes would increase.
b.
the populations of grasshoppers and mice would increase, while the population of snakes would decrease.
c.
the populations of grasshoppers would decrease, while the population of mice and snakes would increase.
d.
the populations of grasshoppers, mice, and snakes would decrease.

The correct answer would be option d.

In the given food chain, plants are present at first trophic level, that is, they are producers.

They produce food which are eaten by grasshoppers. Mice get energy by consuming grasshoppers. Similarly, snakes get energy by consuming mice.

If plants would be wiped out then, no producers will be present in a food chain. Thus, transmission of energy in a food chain would stop.

Consequently, the population of grasshoppers would decrease.

Ultimately, the populations of mice and snakes would also decrease.

d. sodium chloride ions.

thermophiles, notice the prefix thermo.