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Ecosystem

The document consists of a series of questions related to ecosystem concepts, including primary productivity, decomposition processes, energy flow laws, ecological pyramids, food chains, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. It covers definitions, calculations, and explanations of various ecological terms and processes, emphasizing the differences between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, it discusses the roles of abiotic and biotic components, stratification, and the significance of energy flow in maintaining ecosystem balance.

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8 views3 pages

Ecosystem

The document consists of a series of questions related to ecosystem concepts, including primary productivity, decomposition processes, energy flow laws, ecological pyramids, food chains, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. It covers definitions, calculations, and explanations of various ecological terms and processes, emphasizing the differences between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, it discusses the roles of abiotic and biotic components, stratification, and the significance of energy flow in maintaining ecosystem balance.

Uploaded by

trishamondal1080
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Ecosystem

QUESTION : 1
(i) Define "Primary Productivity". Differentiate between Gross Primary
Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary Productivity (NPP).
(ii) Why does the annual net primary productivity of the whole biosphere differ
significantly between terrestrial and ocean ecosystems?
(iii) Write the relationship between GPP, NPP, and Respiration loss (R).

QUESTION : 2
(i) Describe the process of decomposition of detritus under the following heads:
(a) Fragmentation (b) Catabolism (c) Humification
(ii) Mention any two climatic factors that regulate the rate of decomposition.

QUESTION : 3
(i) State the 10% law of energy flow in an ecosystem.
(ii) If 20,000 Joules of energy is available at the producer level in a terrestrial
ecosystem, calculate the amount of energy available at the tertiary consumer
level.
(iii) Why is the number of trophic levels in a grazing food chain restricted?

QUESTION : 4
(i) What are "Ecological Pyramids"?
(ii) Construct a pyramid of biomass for a terrestrial ecosystem and a marine
(pond) ecosystem.
(iii) Explain why the pyramid of biomass in a pond is generally inverted.

QUESTION : 5

(i) "The pyramid of energy is always upright and can never be inverted." Justify
this statement with a valid reason.

(ii) Draw a pyramid of energy for a typical grazing food chain.


QUESTION : 6
(i) Differentiate between a "Grazing Food Chain" (GFC) and a "Detritus Food
Chain" (DFC). (ii) In an aquatic ecosystem, which of the two food chains is the
major conduit for energy flow? Justify.

QUESTION : 7
(i) Define "Secondary Productivity". (ii) Why is the rate of decomposition faster in
the tropics compared to the polar regions?

QUESTION : 8
(i) Explain the components of an ecosystem. Distinguish between 'Abiotic' and
'Biotic' components with two examples each. (ii) What is "Stratification"? Give an
example of stratification in a forest ecosystem.

QUESTION : 9
(i) Represent a pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem and a tree
ecosystem (where a single tree supports many herbivorous birds).
(ii) Why does the shape of the pyramid of numbers change in a parasitic food
chain?

QUESTION : 10
(i) What do you understand by "Standing Crop" and "Standing State"?
(ii) How is the standing crop of a trophic level measured?

QUESTION : 11
(i) Describe the function of an ecosystem as a self-sustaining unit using a pond
as an example.
(ii) Mention the four basic processes that are key to the functioning of any
ecosystem.
QUESTION : 12

(i) Explain the role of "Leaching" and "Mineralisation" in the process of


decomposition.

(ii) Why is detritus rich in lignin and chitin decomposed slowly?

QUESTION : 13

(i) Define "Trophic Level".

(ii) Identify the producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers in the
following food chain: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle.

QUESTION : 14

(i) What is the "Primary Source of Energy" for all ecosystems on Earth (except
deep-sea hydrothermal vents)?

(ii) What percentage of the incident solar radiation is Photosynthetically Active


Radiation (PAR)?

QUESTION : 15

(i) Discuss the impact of human activities on the productivity of an ecosystem.


(ii) How does the energy flow diagram illustrate the unidirectional flow of energy?

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