Which of the following organisms in the soil food chain does not obtain energy directly from plants?
a.
bacteria
b.
fungi
c.
protozoa
d.
nematodes

Question

Which of the following organisms in the soil food chain does not obtain energy directly from plants?
a.
bacteria
b.
fungi
c.
protozoa
d.
nematodes

anonymous · Answer

@Spikers All of them have at least one species that does.  I do not know what the desired answer is.  Do you have anything else that could help us figure it out?

anonymous · Answer

I think it most cases it's nematodes. They are carnivorous.

anonymous · Answer

@Spikers Nematodes are a huge agricultural pest.  Some species feed on the roots of soybeans and other crops.

anonymous · Answer

Ok what would you think the best answer would be since there is no option for all of the above?

anonymous · Answer

@Spikers I think it hinges on how your teacher has been defining "directly".  Should decayers be included in a direct relationship?

anonymous · Answer

It'd be protozoa

anonymous · Answer

This is a horrible question.  Everything on there has at least one member that feeds on plants, dead or alive, or is in a mutualism with plants and obtains energy via carbohydrates from the plant.  

Protazoa is such a large group of diverse organisms that are not actually related to each other, that it is impossible that they lack species that obtain energy from plants.

I've got nothing.