Question

Secondary productivity is the rate of formation of new organic matter by
(a)Producer
(b)Parasite
(c)Consumer
(d)Decomposer

Answer 1

Hint: Secondary productivity is the formation of biomass by heterotrophic organisms. Organisms that are capable of forming biomass or forming energy by the process of photosynthesis form primary productivity.

Complete answer:
The rate at which new organic matter is formed is called secondary productivity.
Consumers don’t make biomass by themselves but depend on producers for their energy. Any biomass or energy produced by organisms that don’t belong to producers (such as decomposers and other consumers) adds up onto secondary productivity.

Additional Information: Energy gets transferred from one level to another starting from producers to primary consumers and finally to secondary consumers.
-Producers: Producers are autotrophs who produce their energy by photosynthesis and using naturally occurring minerals and organic compounds. The main members of this group are plants and algae.
-Parasites: Parasites are organisms that form a symbiotic relationship with the host where the parasite benefits from the host, feeding on the nutrients, and getting shelter.
-Decomposers: Decomposers convert organic matter of dead organisms into biomass feeding onto the leftover nutrients from them. Decomposers are the major producers of humus, the fertile topsoil.
So, the correct answer is ‘Consumers’.

Note: -Consumers are of different levels, organisms that feed on producers (herbivores) are known as the primary consumers. Organisms feed on primary consumers (carnivores) are known as secondary consumers.
-Major examples of parasitic organisms are tapeworms and pinworms which live in the human intestines.
-There are organisms that form a mutualistic relationship with the host where both the organisms benefit known as mutualism.