Correct option is C
The situation described involves three different trophic levels:
Trees (producers)
Plant hoppers (primary consumers feeding on tree sap)
Ants (that interact with the plant hoppers)
Such interactions involving more than two trophic levels are termed multitrophic interactions. This term is used widely in ecology to describe complex relationships among organisms across multiple levels of the food chain.
In this context:
Ants may be protecting the plant hoppers in exchange for honeydew (a sugary excretion), or
They could be feeding on or farming plant hoppers for resources.
These relationships are not necessarily predatory or aimed at protecting the tree, and they don’t inherently upset the ecological balance unless population dynamics shift significantly.
Hence, the correct answer is (c): This is an example of a multitrophic interaction.
