Question

Energy flow in ecosystem is given by:

• A. Haeckel
• B. Odum
• C. Tansley
• D. Victor Hensen

Hint:

Eugene P. Odum is regarded as the father of modern ecosystem ecology.
Associate his name directly with "Energy Flow Models" and ecosystem energetics.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Energy flow refers to the unidirectional movement of energy through trophic levels (producers, consumers, and decomposers) in an ecosystem, governed by the laws of thermodynamics.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the historical contributions of the listed scientists:
Ernst Haeckel coined the term "Ecology" in 1866.
Arthur Tansley proposed the term "Ecosystem" in 1935.
Victor Hensen coined the term "Plankton" in 1887.
Eugene P. Odum (along with his brother Howard T. Odum) made pioneering contributions to ecosystem ecology.
Eugene Odum is widely recognized for developing the universal model of energy flow in ecosystems.
He modeled how solar energy is captured by autotrophs (Primary Production) and subsequently transferred through various trophic levels, with energy being lost as heat at each step due to metabolic respiration.
His classic textbook, Fundamentals of Ecology, popularized these energy flow models, establishing ecosystem ecology as a highly structured, quantitative science.
Therefore, Odum is the scientist associated with formalizing energy flow in ecosystems.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Energy flow in the ecosystem was given and formalized by Odum.