what would happen to all the energy fixed by autotrophic organism if the community has no animals to eat the plants ? The animals would not survive also would they ? So the plants would also not survive or will they because of the microbes? I am confused please explain.
Your friend has answered correctly. However, I would like to add more points.
Animals are important for natural balance in the environment. Firstly, if there are no animals to eat the plants, the population of plants will increase enormously and this will result in instability of ecosystem.
Secondly, plants are dependent on animals like insects, birds, mammals for pollination and seed dispersal. When animals are not present, the pollination and seed dispersal will not occur, so plants also cannot survive in this ecosystem. The animals eat fruits and throw seeds at different places. Thus, helps in the dispersal of seeds. These seeds grow into new plants during favourable conditions. Thus, if there are no animals to eat fruits, seeds will not be moved to different places and they will not grow into new plants.
Thus, it is not possible for this type of ecosystem to exist in reality.
Animals are important for natural balance in the environment. Firstly, if there are no animals to eat the plants, the population of plants will increase enormously and this will result in instability of ecosystem.
Secondly, plants are dependent on animals like insects, birds, mammals for pollination and seed dispersal. When animals are not present, the pollination and seed dispersal will not occur, so plants also cannot survive in this ecosystem. The animals eat fruits and throw seeds at different places. Thus, helps in the dispersal of seeds. These seeds grow into new plants during favourable conditions. Thus, if there are no animals to eat fruits, seeds will not be moved to different places and they will not grow into new plants.
Thus, it is not possible for this type of ecosystem to exist in reality.