Consider the following statements :

Statement-I :
Trophic relationship within ecological communities tends to be complex and web-like.

Statement-II :
Many consumers feed on more than one species and are fed upon by more than one species.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Statement-I is correct: In natural ecosystems, trophic (feeding) relationships are rarely linear. Instead of simple food chains, they form complex, interconnected structures known as food webs.

Statement-II is correct: Most organisms do not rely on a single food source. For instance, a hawk may eat snakes, birds, or rodents, and a single plant species may be consumed by various insects, birds, and mammals. This multi-species interaction is the fundamental reason why trophic relationships become web-like rather than linear.

Since the interconnected feeding habits described in Statement-II directly result in the web-like complexity mentioned in Statement-I, Statement-II provides a correct explanation for Statement-I. This complexity enhances ecosystem stability by providing alternative pathways for energy flow if one species population declines.